The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is trying to leave its mark on the film industry and a fun road trip film called From A to B shows that certain filmmakers have real potential. In From A to B, " Three estranged childhood friends (Omar, Ramy, Jay), travel on a road trip from Abu Dhabi to Beirut in memory of their lost friend. If what happens en route doesn't make them crazy, it might just bring them closer. "
Omar (Fadi Rifaai) is Syrian, Ramy (Shadi Alfons) is Egyptian and Yousef (standup comedian Fahad Al Butairi) is Saudi. The friend they lost, Hady, is Lebanese and was killed during the 2006 bombings in Beirut. Ironically Beirut only appears very briefly at the very end (with an obligatory party scene nonetheless). After all, this is not a film about the destination. It's a film about the actual journey which takes these friends through Saudi Arabia, Jordan with a stop off at Petra and war-torn Syria, where they encounter factions from both sides of the conflict. It's also a journey of self-discovery.
Since this is an Emirati film, you're probably wondering why none of the main characters hail from the emirates. Director Ali Mostafa has a clear answer: " Instead of having Emiratis as protagonists, I thought: Why don’t I depict Arab nationalities who grew up in Abu Dhabi? Also, they are Western-educated Arabs who went to an American school. I wanted to make something that was very relatable for the Arab world, but at the same time also for the West, who could watch these guys and understand them. "
Despite uneven pacing at some instances, the film is fresh and entertaining. It presents young Arabs as cosmopolitan citizens of the world who have dreams and interests. And it also pokes fun at Arab stereotypes we're all familiar with such as the overprotective mother, the son who's still financially dependent on the father and the guy who married in his early twenties. The soundtrack truly captures the mood and features great songs by Amr Diab, Mashrou’ Leila, JadaL, Yasmine Hamdan and Souad Massi. Beyond the laughs and main theme of friendship, the film subtly explores events that have rocked the Arab world and things that still continue to shake the foundations of the Middle East. These rather heavy topics are all coated with a touch of lightness. From A to B is a pleasant surprise.
Our rating: 8 Steps out of 10.
Watch the trailer here: