The Idol

Israel-born Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad has twice been nominated for Oscars, for "Paradise Now" (2005) and "Omar" (2013). His latest film is based on the true story of Mohammed Assaf, the winner of the second season of "Arab Idol," in 2013.

At first, you think that the film is going to be about his sister, Nour (Hiba Attahliah). She's brave, and headstrong, and determined to raise money and start a band. It's in order to raise money for Nour's dream that Mohammed (played as a child by Qais Attaliah) competes for a monetary prize; with his winnings, the kids in the band buy instruments and start performing at weddings. Mohammed takes voice lessons from Mr. Kamal, who recognizes in him the potential for a great singer.

But the band is beset by problems; one of the members leaves for religious reasons, citing a belief that music is the work of the Devil. Another member becomes gravely ill, with the cure -- the purchase of a new kidney -- well out of financial reach. The kids pack it in, and that's that.

Until seven years later, that is, when a now-grown Mohammed (now played by Tawfeek Barhom) decides that performing is his one and only ticket out of an increasingly desperate life in Gaza. His old childhood pals rally to help his achieve his dream, except for Omar (Ahmad Rakh). But even Omar's heart melts when Mohammed pleads with him in the name of Nour -- Omar's first love, never requited.

Mohammed, too, is in love, with a young woman named Amal (Dima Awawdeh). You just know that when he's facing adversity of the most hopeless sort -- daunted by logistical problems of traveling out of Gaza, or faced with the lack of a ticket at the "Arab Idol" audition, or even fighting his inner demons when he dreams seem within reach -- that it's the thought of Amal that will give him the strength he needs to prevail. That, plus a whole lot of luck and his amazing voice, just might be enough.

Of course, this being a somewhat fictionalized account of the true story, it is enough; if we know about Mohammad Assaf, we know whether he got on the show, how he did as a contestant, and what it meant for his life. But his story is also a hopeful one for Palestinians in Gaza and everywhere else -- and for anyone who feels oppressed and dreams of being heard.

The film is jumpy, given to veering around from plot point to plot point. Sometimes the narrative fails to line up, even as the points are arrayed as carefully as a row of dominoes. For a "based on true events" film this one has a tendency to feel awfully artificial, even as the material seems to buck and twist, resisting neatly streamlined organization. That, one would think, is the risk of drawing from real life to tell a story, since real life has a tendency to be messy. Hence the film's tendency toward simplistic problems given simplistic solutions; even when the film matches real events, the way those events are staged feels way too pat.

But in part, the problem also stems from the film straining far too hard to be emotionally engaging. Highs, lows, moments of peril -- they all feel pumped up. As for Mohammed's singing voice, it's far too perfect; whether he's pouring out a song in his taxi, or in the restroom, his voice sounds like it was recorded in a studio, with a little echo and a little polish. The singing is extraordinary -- but it's also quite obviously dubbed in, and it's hard to connect the voice with the actor. The performance suffers as a result.

Don't expect this film to garner Abu-Assad his third Oscar nom. But do expect it to charm and move you... though, not as much as it might have if it felt more authentic and maybe a shade less "Slumdog Millionaire."