Captain Abu Raed 2008

S. James Snyder, Time Out: Eager, earnest and ultimately a little too easy on the conscience, Amin Matalqa's Jordanian melodrama is social commentary with the gloss of classical Italian drama. Read more

Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times: Making a polished feature debut after directing shorts at the American Film Institute, Jordanian-born, American-educated Matalqa demonstrates a subtle touch with a well-chosen cast. Read more

Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: Writer-director Amin Matalqa's debut affirms life, plucks heartstrings, and knows no shame. Read more

Sam Adams, Los Angeles Times: Amin Matalqa's teary drama, Captain Abu Raed, takes its obvious cues from the neorealism of Satyajit Ray and Jean Renoir, but Matalqa doesn't know how to balance melodrama with quiet moments the way the masters did. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: His journey makes for a complex film that goes beyond the obvious. It, too, travels. And it travels well. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: There's an aura of tension as Abu Raed helps a boy escape from his abusive father. And the location shots of Amman are impressive. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: It's a simple story told with dignity and aiming for universal relevance. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Gentle, humanistic and suffocatingly sentimental. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: Great taste isn't quite the same as great filmmaking, and director Matalqa sometimes lapses into broad humour and even broader melodrama in this generally low-key, wistful tale. Read more

Jason Anderson, Toronto Star: A sweet-tempered tale about the power of fantasy and storytelling becomes a starker parable about human connection and personal sacrifice. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Captain Abu Raed is a straightforward heart-tugging melodrama that, while safe and conventional, is likable in numerous ways. Read more

F.X. Feeney, Village Voice: Such a subtle yet global view of human struggle -- the whole world viewed through the prism of a single poor neighborhood -- is a mark of extraordinary promise from this remarkable new filmmaker. Read more