Captain Abu Raed

The title character of this heartwarming Jordanian film from writer-director Amin Matalqa is a lonely widower and Amman airport janitor (Nadim Sawalha), who becomes a celebrity in the eyes of the local children when he finds an old captain's hat at work, wears it home, and is mistaken for a pilot. Slipping easily into the role, Abu spins exotic and fanciful tales for the kids—supposedly based on his travels but actually on conversations with a pretty stewardess. One boy from an unhappy home discovers the truth and proceeds to reveal the ruse, but by then Abu has already become invested in the children's lives, intervening when one tyke's father tries to force him to leave school and take a job. Abu shows his true mettle when he takes action to end the abuse heaped on the child who “outed” him (as well as the boy's mother) by an alcoholic father. Captain Abu Raed isn't all sweetness and light, but overall it's a charming and affecting story of a man who reconnects with life and whose courage and self-sacrifice make a real difference in the lives of others. Recommended. (F. Swietek)