Captain Abu Raed

Directed by Amin Matalqa

102 mins. / Jordan / In Arabic with English subtitles / 2007

 

Airport janitor, Abu Raed is mistaken for a pilot and idolized by a group of children after he wears a discarded captain’s hat. Through reading and frequent encounters with travelers at Amman Airport, he tells the children vivid stories and takes them to colorful corners of the world, inspiring them to believe in their dreams. Meanwhile, rebellious teenager Murad, is on a quest to prove Abu Raed a liar. Yet Abu Raed makes sacrifices to save his family and helps Murad discover new possibilities in life.