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Captains of Za'atari Photos

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Movie Info

Having fled the war in Syria, best friends Mahmoud and Fawzi live in Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan. Like many boys their age they dream of becoming professional football players. Having no real facilities or means for training they play persistently in the hope that one day their dream may come to life.

Cast & Crew

Ali El Arabi
Director
Ali El Arabi
Producer

Critic Reviews for Captains of Za'atari

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (1)

  • Director Ali El Arabi crafts a film of deep humanity, providing an exposé of the struggles and tragedies of refugee life.

    February 20, 2021 | Full Review…

    Josh Flanders

    Chicago Reader

  • Mahmoud proclaims that refugees don't need pity; they need opportunities. And that message resonates throughout the film.

    February 10, 2021 | Full Review…

    Alissa Wilkinson

    Vox

  • A coming-of-age tale, an underdog story and an urgent humanitarian statement rolled into one, "Captains of Zaatari" claims a special place among all the recent documentaries about the Syrian crisis, with a melancholic final shot to soothe the soul.

    February 9, 2021 | Full Review…

    Tomris Laffly

    Variety

  • Ali El Arabi's Captains of Zaatari isn't solely the football equivalent of Hoop Dreams -- it's a heartwarming tale of friendship between two boys bound by love for the game and each other.

    February 3, 2021 | Full Review…

    Robert Daniels

    RogerEbert.com

  • A gripping documentary, but one that might leave you feeling a little unsure about the filmmaking techniques involved, once you start to think about it.

    February 23, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

    Fiona Underhill

    JumpCut Online

  • El Arabi hits his points home with a certain kind of Hollywood-primed precocity that sugarcoats more complex realities.

    February 17, 2021 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

    Isaac Feldberg

    The Film Stage
View All Critic Reviews (13)

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