Following a successful 2022 overseas that saw it make its world premiere at last year’s Cannes Film Festival,Adil El ArbiandBilall Fallah’sRebelwill soon be celebrating its Los Angeles opening this Friday, September 22 followed by another screening on Saturday, September 23. With both El Arbi and Fallah sticking around for a post-show Q+A,legendary filmmakerOliver Stone(JFK,Natural Born Killers) will host the event on Friday with producer and BeyondFest organizer,Evrim Ersoyfielding the questions on Saturday. In an exclusive Collider sneak peek clip, audiences can catch a glimpse of the riveting action and gut-punching drama set to play out inRebel.
Pulling the film’s main character into the frame, the clip centers aroundAboubakr Bensaihi’s Kamal Wasaki, a Moroccan-Belgianrappertrying to make a name for himself. Shot in the style of a music video, the teaser gives audiences a broken-down look at the film’s overarching plot. Driven byhip-hopmusic and the rapper’s vocals, explosions on the dance floor send everyone into a panic. As his audience and backup dancers fall dead around him, Kamal watches while hanging from the ceiling until the deceased bodies are filled with life, getting back onto their feet and picking up with the party.
InRebel, audiences follow the gripping story of Kamal (Bensaihi), an up-and-coming rapper bursting onto the scene with a passion and drive to use his platform to spread the word about political and social injustices. Feeling that his time would be better spent serving on the front lines of the cause, Kamal leaves his family and budding career behind to travel to Syria to help those affected by thewar. While he’s on his mission of good, Kamal is kidnapped by an armed group with connections to the Islamic State who force him to join but allow him to put his skills to good use as a videographer and editor. Meanwhile, back home, Kamal’s much younger brother, Nassim (Amir El Arbi) is approached by a recruiter for the Islamic State and, wanting to follow in his big brother’s footsteps, becomes entranced by the group. With both of her sons in danger, Leïla (Lubna Azabal) searches for a way to keep them both safe and bring Kamal home.
The Directors Behind ‘Rebel’
While many will connect Fallah and El Arbi’s names with titles includingBad Boys for LifeandGangsta, last year, the duo was attached to the ill-fatedBatgirlfilm - a project that was ultimately canned by Warner Bros. Discovery following a slew of budget cuts. Jumping from DC to Marvel, the pair’s vision was then seen in two episodes of the superhero studio’s series,Ms. Marvel. Beyond their powerful story inRebel, the celebrated team will next be bringing audiences the fourth installment of theBad Boysfranchise.
