With the necessary pause of international travel at the moment, you now have some additional time to prepare for your postponed Jordan tour. While many will have seen the epic scenery of Jordan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, or the newest Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, our suggested films highlight the local culture, history, and society as well. Here are three award winning films to watch before your Jordan tour. Each one is locally produced and the local Arabic dialects are used throughout.
Captain Abu Raed
Captain Abu Raed is a heart-wrenching drama detailing the complex social fabric of modern day Amman, threading together the stories of a neighbourhood and addressing Amman’s social, cultural and socio-economic expectations and constraints.
When I Saw You
When I Saw You takes place during the second wave of Palestinian refugees to Jordan after 1967, this film follows the life of a young boy exiled with his mother and in search of his identity in a new land – one of many stories illustrating the journey that millions now have taken to find refuge in Jordan. When I Saw You is available to stream for Amazon Prime users in the United States.
Theeb
Theeb is a “wild west” film through the eyes of the Bedouin of the Jordanian desert during World War I. This epic tale covers themes of colonialism and orientalism who’s aftereffects have shaped the country and the region today. Theeb was nominated for a 2016 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
While there are many more films we suggest watching before your Jordan tour, these three will give you a great start to gain insight into the culture and people of this remarkable place.
