Dir: Ali Kalthami | KSL | Comedy thriller |
Ali Kalthami’s debut feature Is a taut and caustically comedic thriller set in Riyadh where a decent but down on his luck local guy comes a cropper.
Mohammed Aldokhi is robust and darkly humorous as the saturnine central character Fahad who is burning the candle at both ends in difficult circumstances. Bored – and frankly bad – at his day job in a call centre, nighttime sees Fahad grafting as a mandoob (courier) to earn money for his ageing father’s medical treatment.
Everyone knows that Saudi is an alcohol free zone but when Fahad is inevitably fired he makes the mistake of stealing booze from an illegal dealer with the hope of trading it on for cash. And so begins his descent into a world of crime in a country of zero tolerance on all levels – unless you’re Arab Royalty or in the Diplomatic service.
For the favoured set Saudi is a glitzy place framed by skyscrapers, swish cafes, snazzy hotels, magnificent shopping malls and vibrant nightlife. All this is showcased in DoP Ahmed Tahoun’s dazzling cinematography in an impressive debut to his promising career in film,
ON RELEASE 30 AUGUST 2024 IN UK AND IRELAND