REBEL

When Kamal resolves to change his life for the better, he leaves Belgium to help war victims in Syria. But, having arrived, he is forced to join a militia and is left stranded in Raqqa. Back home, his younger brother Nassim quickly becomes easy prey for radical recruiters, who promise to reunite him with his brother. Their mother, Leila, fights to protect the only thing she has left: her youngest son.

BILALL FALLAH, ADIL EL ARBI

Belgian-Moroccan Muslim filmmakers Adil and Bilall first gained attention with their film Black (2015), which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, where it won the Discovery section. Further film credits include Gangsta (2018), which was selected in Palm Springs, where Adil & Bilall were shortlisted in “10 Directors to Watch”. In 2020, they directed Bad Boys for Life, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, which grossed over $426 million at the worldwide box office. Rebel (2022), which the duo co-wrote and co-directed, premiered as a Midnight Screening at Cannes Film Festival.

Reveiws:

This fascinating work proves why it’s essential for cinema to have a diverse range of voices telling the stories.

Kaleem Aftab, Cineuropa