Bad Boys For Life directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are the most recent directors to tackle war on film; it goes without saying, but doing so is easily one of, if not the most difficult and touchy endeavors a filmmaker can endure. Of course, war is never simple nor easy in any medium, but cinema’s unique visual angle makes it by far the most inherently impactful in regards to stories like these. Regardless of everything on the page (though certainly not to dismiss it), a war film shows you war. Rebel specifically does so through the lens of a thriller, tracking a young man assisting war victims in Syria in search of something greater, only to discover (against his will) the horrors of ISIS and all the unimaginable things that come with that.
The film sort of opens three times consecutively; the sequences do connect (and one has the title card, marking the actual opening) but each feel like standalone, predominantly visual introductions to concepts the film would go on to discuss at length. It’s a dusty, somewhat spaced out opening ten minutes, yet it’s simultaneously incredibly precise. Everything, from single shots to nearly unnoticeable nods, draws back to the painfully realized center. It’s harsh because it has to be; infinite kudos to Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah for such a bold-faced effort all around.
Their handling of the film’s steep cultural aspects is remarkable, too. There’s a clear battle of moral conviction within the wider culture of the setting that draws more than a few interesting lines; there’s a compelling, cool heart at the center of all the flames that is driven by the good people. Misunderstanding stabs through and meaningless hate pressures it, but neither prevail. If there is any eventual triumph in all the tragedy here, it seems to be that.
Lead actor Aboubakr Bensaihi leads that charge. His every scene is a new best, handling heavy emotion with a tactful ease; he exudes a sense of ever-present care that is both instantly special and memorable. Regardless of the scenario, he’s up to bat. His performance is even more impressive considering that Rebel is only his third feature film. This may only be a taste of what’s to come for him, and with this film, he’s already earned all our eyes and hearts.
Inevitably, part of that performance, and really what most else in this film must bend to, are the circumstances. Take the cinematography, for example; there are unsettlingly realistic replications of filmed executions, endless rows of distant gray streets dotted with crumbling homes, and an impatient orange sun watching over all, painting a very straightforward picture in full understanding of what that means for the viewer. It looks, and most often feels, grand. There are moments of intimacy in interactions and some things on a smaller scale, but those manage to feel huge, too. Rebel is certainly saying more than what is seen on screen, and even at its worst (worst meaning simply not as good as the rest of it), that counts for something.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have found themselves in an interesting scenario with this one. They’ve mainly been known in the mainstream for the confusingly canceled Batgirl and portions of the all-around well received Ms. Marvel. Now, they’ve flipped the script, and delivered an unimaginable film in the wake of those projects. Hopefully, they’ll receive just as much attention for Rebel as their comic-book efforts. It isn’t often that such a potent surprise flies under the radar such as Rebel, further evidenced by the sheer lack of a search result when you Google the word due to the upcoming Rebel Moon dominating everything to do with it. Do the due diligence and watch Rebel; it’s a powerful examination of a terrible reality, and is exactly what it needs to be.
Rebel is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Yellow Veil Pictures.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have found themselves in an interesting scenario with this one. They’ve mainly been known in the mainstream for the confusingly canceled Batgirl and portions of the all-around well received Ms. Marvel. Now, they’ve flipped the script, and delivered an unimaginable film in the wake of those projects. Hopefully, they’ll receive just as much attention for Rebel as their comic-book efforts. It isn’t often that such a potent surprise flies under the radar such as Rebel, further evidenced by the sheer lack of a search result when you Google the word due to the upcoming Rebel Moon dominating everything to do with it. Do the due diligence and watch Rebel; it’s a powerful examination of a terrible reality, and is exactly what it needs to be.
Movies, long drives, and mint chocolate chip ice cream.
