Written and directed by Ali Kalthami, co-written by Mohammed Algarawi, in the heart of Riyadh, where desperation and opportunity collide, a mentally fragile man racing against time to save his ailing father. As his world crumbles under the weight of financial burden and societal indifference, Fahad’s life takes an unexpected turn when he is forced to make ends meet as a humble delivery mandoob. Starring: Mohamad Aldokhei, Mohammed Altawyan, Hajar Alshammari, Sarah Taibah, Abdullah Ahmad and Mohammed Algarawi.
There’s always something satisfying about watching a story unravel, to explore that snowball effect of one bad decision leading to another, and Mandoob definitely captures that. One of the biggest strengths of the writing from Ali Kalthami and Mohammed Algarawi is that the plot has endless possibilities and a constantly lingering potential for darkness or despair. You don’t even necessarily need those to come to fruition, the atmosphere that creates itself is enough but they still give us plenty to keep viewers glued in. The progression works really well, it never feels rushed nor slow, it’s right on the money.
All of that is then undeniably enhanced by the directorial style from Kalthami, it’s stylish yet subtle. There’s a sleekness to it which adds a lot to the story, while never losing its grounded nature. Those choices allow the story to feel riskier and more dangerous, which is a huge advantage. The style almost has a 1970s edge to it with the colour choices and contrasts, especially in its night scenes, which make up a lot of the film. Kalthami also hits the notes of suspicion excellently, it’s always there, making you constantly question things, which is a superb element to capture.
Part of that lure is also how they present the character of Fahad (Mohamad Aldokhei), he’s not inherently trustworthy or untrustworthy. He’s not manic but he can be unpredictable, which does a great job of creating someone you want to follow and can be sympathetic to but will still question him. In no small part due to the leading performance from Aldokhei, he brings the right level of desperation to Fahad, mixed with the love of his family and the wish to succeed, as well as the resentment of minimum wage work. It’s almost reminiscent of a more stylish version of Asghar Farhadi’s A Hero, a decent man who can’t help but get in his own way.
Mandoob creates a gripping air of suspicion while keeping the background of a humble drama. It’s an impressive balance, bringing through plenty of stylish touches while never losing its earnest foundation. Aldokhei’s leading performance is really interesting to watch, never quite knowing what Fahad will do next. It’s a classic story of making one wrong choice then trying to get out of it while only digging yourself deeper. It brings through plenty of danger and risk, adding an edge of thriller, without getting lost in it, it’s a very strong debut feature from Ali Kalthami.
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