War is an inevitability brought on in a world ruled by rivalry. The constant push for human beings to be pulled apart and divided against each other in an arbitrary battle of differences consistently reaches a boiling point that can only end in violence. Whether it’s religion, cultural differences or political beliefs that lead us down the path of war, the one constant that remains is that no matter what, it will always end in misery for both sides regardless of the actual victor. Rebel is a story many know all too well and yet, it’s a film that packs a gut punch which is completely necessary for the wider world to truly understand.
The film follows Kamal (Aboubakr Bensaihi) and his younger brother, Nassim (Amir El Arbi). Kamal hopes to change his life for the better and in order to do so, takes on the task of helping civilians within Syria during the ongoing war. However, as Kamal arrives within the country, he is tied into a radical militia and the discovery of this shakes the foundation of his family as well as his mother Leila (Lubna Azabal) and Nassim’s relationship. As Leila attempts to come to terms with this new reality as the war in Syria comes to her doorstep, Nassim begins to fall into a downward spiral of propaganda and brainwashing in a desperate attempt to save his brother.
The star of the show … is Lubna Azabal. The role of a mother torn apart as her children are taken away by dark forces exploiting their compassion means Azabal graces the screen with an incredibly layered and heartbreaking performance
Directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, Rebel is directed with a deeply intimate and involved hand as we follow the close relationship of the film’s core family as it begins to be torn apart by the horrors of war. Although this family is a distance away from the action of the battlefield, Rebel ultimately becomes a film about not just the direct horrors and impact of war within Syria but how its hooks can be sunk into the world itself through propaganda. Wars are not fought entirely with weapons but instead, a combination of violence and edited information to shape a narrative in contrast to the truth. The character of Nassim embodies the soul that is most targeted by the machine of propaganda. Children are often considered to be far more impressionable than adults and while this isn’t entirely untrue, children also have the ability to become disillusioned in a far shorter time span than adults can ever dream of. Nassim falls into the path of radicalisation out of love for his brother while Kamal falls into the path of redemption to create a better world for his family. Both of these goals are noble and perfect targets to be corrupted by warfare.
The performances within Rebel are all fantastic but the star of the show here without a shadow of a doubt is Lubna Azabal in the role of Leila. The role of a mother torn apart as her children are taken away by dark forces exploiting their compassion means Azabal graces the screen with an incredibly layered and heartbreaking performance that makes her endlessly engaging as her resilience becomes the beating heart of the film’s darker story. Rebel gives Leila the least amount of screen time of the film’s main trio of characters yet when she appears on screen, Azabal’s performance commands the screen and demands attention much like the film’s blunt and brutal message of the dangers of radicalisation of war.
Rebel is an absolutely fantastic and devastating drama from Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah that feels personal and authentic within every waking moment. The film’s use of music, beautiful and colourful cinematography from Robrecht Heyvaert as well as the amazing performances from its cast come together for a breathtaking experience of a film that needs to be seen now more than ever. As the war in Syria rages on as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, war is consistently on the minds of every person and as we continuously move into this online future where the very concept of narrative is potentially in danger, Rebel is a film with a message more important than ever.
Rebel is available on Digital Platforms from the 16th January
