Rebel

I watched it with a friend in theaters expecting a low budget indie movie but this movie is something else entirely.

I should have known that these directors never deliver a standard movie, with just a good story and great acting. If you have seen their previous work, you know what I mean. They take risks in terms of mixing genres that would not match on paper, working with unexperienced actors and do really cool stuff with the cameras, sound and editing. This time, they delivered their best work so far.

Rebel is a movie like I have never seen before. Sure there are other movies about war in the middle east or about terrorism but this one changed my perspective and that's something.

The story is told from multiple perspectives (2 brothers and their mother) which keeps it interesting throughout it's runtime. It is a high paced movie that delivers thanks to it authenticity: the actors speak in their native language (english is rare), explosions and scenes are the real thing and the story is raw and unforgiving. This is what you get when you give a talented crew a big budget and trust them that they deliver something unique and personal. I guess the name of the movie also applies to them.

Rebel is a must-see and the best movie I have seen this year.

**Review of "Rebel" (2022): A Masterpiece of Emotional Depth and Real-World Relevance**

The 2022 film "Rebel" by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah is a visceral and moving cinematic experience, tackling one of the most pressing social issues of our time-radicalization and extremism-while maintaining an intimate and personal narrative that makes the story deeply relatable and emotionally impactful. Combining stunning cinematography, impeccable performances, and a nuanced script, "Rebel" is a must-watch that transcends its immediate subject matter to explore themes of family, identity, and redemption.

At its heart, "Rebel" tells the story of Kamal (played by Aboubakr Bensaihi), a young man from Belgium who, after a series of missteps, becomes embroiled in the Syrian conflict. What makes the film unique is that it neither demonizes nor glorifies Kamal's choices, but instead portrays them with profound complexity, offering a balanced perspective on how and why people-particularly disillusioned young men-can be seduced by extremist ideologies.

The film begins with Kamal in Brussels, leading a fairly ordinary life but struggling to find his place in a society that often marginalizes individuals like him. With a blend of frustration, idealism, and a sense of adventure, he makes the fateful decision to travel to Syria, believing he will be part of something meaningful. What he finds instead is the brutal reality of war, far removed from the romanticized version sold by recruiters.

One of the film's greatest strengths is its ability to humanize Kamal without excusing his actions. Through a series of flashbacks and present-day scenes, the audience gets a window into his soul-his motivations, his doubts, and ultimately, his regret. The complexity of Kamal's character is a testament to Bensaihi's stellar performance. He brings a raw emotional intensity to the role, capturing both Kamal's youthful idealism and the eventual disillusionment that sets in when he realizes the full extent of what he has become involved in.

Equally compelling is the storyline involving Kamal's younger brother, Nassim, and their mother, Leila (played with remarkable strength by Lubna Azabal). Leila's arc is one of the film's emotional anchors. As a mother, she is heartbroken over Kamal's departure but determined not to lose Nassim to the same fate. The film does an incredible job of showing the familial fallout from radicalization-the way it tears apart families and leaves loved ones in a constant state of fear and confusion. Leila's struggle to keep her family together and protect Nassim from following Kamal's path is as harrowing as any action sequence.

Speaking of action, the directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, are best known for their work on big-budget projects like "Bad Boys for Life," but in "Rebel," they demonstrate their skill in crafting intense, claustrophobic action scenes that feel grounded in reality. The battle sequences in Syria are harrowing and brutally authentic, immersing the audience in the chaos and destruction of war. But the action never feels gratuitous; it serves the larger narrative and emotional stakes of the film, reminding viewers of the horrific consequences of extremism.

Visually, "Rebel" is stunning. The cinematography is a perfect blend of gritty realism and moments of dream-like beauty. The contrast between the dusty, war-torn streets of Syria and the gray, sometimes bleak urban landscape of Brussels serves as a visual metaphor for the conflict Kamal feels within himself-the disillusionment with his current life and the false promise of a better future. The directors make expert use of color and lighting to highlight this internal struggle, giving the film a unique visual identity that complements its thematic depth.

Beyond its technical achievements, "Rebel" shines in its ability to balance personal stories with larger social commentary. The film does not shy away from addressing the root causes of radicalization, such as systemic discrimination, social alienation, and the search for belonging. Yet it does so in a way that feels organic to the characters and their development, rather than preachy or heavy-handed. The film asks difficult questions about culpability, redemption, and whether it is ever too late to make amends for past mistakes.

One of the film's most impressive feats is its refusal to offer easy answers. Kamal's journey is tragic, and while there is a sense of redemption toward the end, it is not a simplistic, feel-good resolution. Instead, "Rebel" leaves the audience with a sense of unease, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about the world we live in. At the same time, the film is not without hope-it shows that even in the darkest of circumstances, there is room for change, forgiveness, and the possibility of a better future.

In conclusion, "Rebel" is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores complex themes with intelligence and sensitivity. The performances, particularly from Bensaihi and Azabal, are exceptional, and the film's direction, cinematography, and action sequences are top-notch. But what truly sets "Rebel" apart is its emotional depth and its willingness to tackle difficult, real-world issues without flinching. It's a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, and one that will undoubtedly spark important conversations about identity, extremism, and the power of family. "Rebel" is not just a great film-it's an important one.

No pun intended as always. The movie is quite serious, so forgive me for still finding something (some call them dad jokes, not me though) to smile about. And when I say serious, some might even say dead serious. The movie that tackles Syria and the war within, has many more things to say! About family, about how people are drawn in to serve/work with or rather for ... people that pretend to care for you and your struggles ... but of course they don't really.

What we get is a deep look into how people are brainwashed, but once inside get treated horrible ... to a degree where they are not able to get out. The hurt and pain one has gets exploited to the core (again no pun intended).

I know that quite a few had this at their top of their 2022 movie list. I only was able to watch it the other day .. and I can see why they liked it so much. But while this stays mostly on the serious side, it also is able to pull off sing and dance numbers. Which is quite the incredible feat to pull off ... if you don't mind that, it is very well done.

The main characters and their family connection is one thing - being annoyed or rather distressed by the lack of attention or help by the western world can backfire ... or as already said exploited by people who know how ... the will to survive might make you do things you don't want to. Including how you would treat others ... and if you show weakness (being kind would be one of the things considered that way) ... well there is no place for you ... only to be used for other purposes ... very ill intended ones ... family is big .. family is strong ... but family also makes you vulnerable to certain things ... you'll know what ... there quite a few booms ... none bigger than the one towards the end ...

I will explain why I think this movie is top ten my favorites.

First of all the story was written and incluenced by the Syrian civil war in 2014/2015. So this movie has realism, a lot actually.

Unlike other Middle Eastern war movies where the Americans are always potrayed as the "heroes", this one is about a perspective of a Moroccan living in Belgium, that ended up going to Syria to help, but falled in the hands of ISIS.

So the story has almost everything. Whether if it's about a family with it's issues. Or about friendship and who you can trust. Or about action with guns and bombs. Or about drama where you almost end up crying even as a man.

And if you love details, then for your knowledge, this movie is filled with it:

I love how everything is accurately depicted. They use Al-Hayat Media Center to film propaganda. Just like ISIS did in real life. They use Anasheed (Islamic music) just like ISIS did irl.

The people in the movie also look so amazingly accurate. YPG, ISIS, Turkish Forces, etc. All look 1:1 the same as irl.

More details that most dont notice are that vehicles will always become dirty, characters reappear, little jokes and stereorypes are added.

And no other movie but Rebel has added this one key fearure: language barrier among the Militia.

ISIS was a group with lots of different types of people from the whole world. Some spoke arabic, some german, some dutch, some english, etc.

I could go on with all the other details that the movie added but just watch it yourself.

I personally appreciate this movie a lot and watched it three times already.

Hollywood really can't get over itself enough to produce anything that doesn't resemble flag-waiving American propaganda when it comes to the conflict of terror, especially when it concerns Middle Easterners. Which is why I was hopeful that Rebel would offer something different.

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, they previously had the hard task of making Bad Boys relevant again (and succeeding). And yet, here their talent is even more obvious when it's free from the framework of a Hollywood blockbuster. The tone is deadly serious, it's gritty and harrowing, the cinematography will have you believe you're watching a big budget movie. Yet there are at least three musical and dance numbers seamless integrated within the story, which do not even seem out of place. I am not sure how they did that either, but it worked for me.

Furthermore, there are many languages spoken in the movie, English being in the minority. This may admittedly jar a lot of moviegoers, yet I found it authentic.

Overall, Rebel is epic from start to finish. Very few movies have recently moved me like this one. This is one of the strongest movies to be released in 2022.