The Falconer (Sjöberg and Winslow, 2021)

The Falconer tells the story of two young men that endeavor to save a young girl from an abusive marriage.

Writers and directors, Adam Sjöberg and Seanne Winslow, construct the film’s story around the escapades of two real-life friends, Tariq (Rami Zahar) and Cai (Rupert Fennessy). The two young men enjoy a rather normal and whimsical friendship until Tariq’s sister, Alia (Noor Al-Huda), finds herself in an abusive marriage that Tariq feels compelled to rescue her from. The gravity of the situation feels a little over the top until you realize that this actually happened! The movie admirably tackles issues of race, class, and marriage in a way that I think young people could actually appreciate with the guiding hand of a parent. I say that somewhat ironically because Tariq and Cali navigate the pitfalls that they face with no (onscreen) parental guidance whatsoever! It’s a fine line to teeter because the whole goal of parenting is to get your kids to a place where you feel comfortable leaving them to their own devices, but The Falconer seems to skip a few steps.

However, the movie is not meant to be a referendum on parenting. The film’s intention is to offer insight into a culture that many Americans ignore or flat-out dismiss as irrelevant. The film is shot in the country of Oman and makes a concerted effort to portray it as authentically as possible. The opening scenes of the movie challenge the stereotype that all Middle Eastern countries exist in a barren wasteland. The film shows that a gorgeous sun irradiates Oman’s rocky hills and pristine lakes. Did you know that Omanis cultivate honeybees?! According to this movie, they do! The Falconer offers a fascinating glimpse into a “mysterious” world.

Cai, a white westerner, serves as our guide. Cai lives in Oman, when he’s not galivanting during the summer months, because his parents are working there. The movie doesn’t get into why his parents are in Oman, but the situation reeks of government contractors soaking up oil money. Sjöberg and Winslow find themselves in a precarious situation here because there are times when Cai comes close to being a “white savior.” Such an issue has to be addressed with kid gloves in this day and age. They just barely pull it off.
Sjöberg and Winslow effectively offer moments of tension that put Cai’s white privilege in stark contrast with Tariq’s dark reality without being condescending. Cai makes plans to go to college abroad while Tariq struggles to graduate from high school. Cia works at the village zoo to make people like Sarah McLachlan proud while Tarik does the same job to just pay the bills. It’s a cliché that almost ruins the movie. The earnest friendship that actors Zahar and Fennessy are able to sell saves the whole premise of the film.

I do wish that the film had given more consideration to the crux of the issue it is attempting to highlight, which is the danger of marriage for women in third-world countries. The majority of the film revolves around Tariq’s and Cai’s ethically questionable decision to steal and sell exotic animals. However, the reason that they engage in such nefarious behavior, to garner the funds needed to repay Alia’s dowry in order for her to procure a divorce from an abusive husband, feels like an issue that is underserved by the movie. There are cursory mentions of the bruising beatings she endures and the absurdity of arranged marriages, but they are not given the consideration they deserve. I concede the fact that giving justice to all of the issues that The Falconer is attempting to address was always going to be impossible, but I lament the loss of an opportunity to do more.

However, The Falconer is a coming-of-age movie that would be a good watch for parents and their teenagers. It has a lot to teach. It offers an opportunity to peer into and develop a respect for a foreign culture. It highlights the value of responsibility and work ethic. It presents the value of family and friendship. An earnest movie about family, friends, and work ethic should be on everybody’s watchlist,