THE IDOL is a deeply moving straightforward biopic of Mohammad Assaf, a poor Palestinian kid from the Gaza Strip who defied many odds to travel to Cairo and audition for Arab Idol, eventually winning the competition and becoming a UN Ambassador.
Director Hany Abu-Assad (twice Oscar nominated for PARADISE NOW, OMAR) creates a perfect balance between a sentimental almost fairy-tale story and the harsh reality of life in a warzone.
The first half of the film sees Mohammad growing up with his sister Nour and their two friends. These wonderfully bright and endearing kids scrabble together enough money to buy instruments and start a band, playing at weddings and gaining a following. But a tragedy strikes and the band is dissolved - Mohammad stops singing and Omar becomes drawn into the resistance movement. The second half of the story picks up with Mohammad being inspired by a childhood friend to apply for Palestinian Star and then Arab Idol. The problem is the latter audition is in Cairo, and living in the Gaza Strip means he is prevented from travelling legally. But physically making it to the audition turns out to be the least of his problems, because once he’s on TV the pressure of representing an oppressed people, and a Cause, because almost too much to bear.
Director Hany Abu-Assad (twice Oscar nominated for PARADISE NOW, OMAR) creates a perfect balance between a sentimental almost fairy-tale story and the harsh reality of life in a warzone.
The first half of the film sees Mohammad growing up with his sister Nour and their two friends. These wonderfully bright and endearing kids scrabble together enough money to buy instruments and start a band, playing at weddings and gaining a following. But a tragedy strikes and the band is dissolved - Mohammad stops singing and Omar becomes drawn into the resistance movement. The second half of the story picks up with Mohammad being inspired by a childhood friend to apply for Palestinian Star and then Arab Idol. The problem is the latter audition is in Cairo, and living in the Gaza Strip means he is prevented from travelling legally. But physically making it to the audition turns out to be the least of his problems, because once he’s on TV the pressure of representing an oppressed people, and a Cause, because almost too much to bear.
