The Idol: no matter what is unique to this particular story, Hany Abu-Assad’s film is easy to get involved with because the main character’s quest, for a better life, is for all practical purposes universal and inspirational. That said, it’s a very simple story, one that, despite being real, looks very much out of place in the particular setting. It’s told without many frills, generically but efficiently. The first half benefits from the child actors (in particular Qais Attallah and Hiba Attahllah; they are not great actors, but very cute and display nice chemistry). Qais Attallah and his adult counterpart, Tawfeek Barhom, have nice singing voices, an important element for the story.