From the Saudi cinematic arena, the wrestler “Sattar” flew to land on the global “Netflix” arena, and it became an entertainment material available to viewers of the platform around the world.
The Saudi film “Sattar: The Return of the Legendary Five” was launched at the Red Sea Festival in Jeddah last December, and then began its journey in the halls of the Kingdom, the Gulf and Britain at the beginning of this year, and today it is a welcome guest on “Netflix”. In parallel with the platform dedicating a promotional campaign for the suspenseful comedy movie on social media pages, “Sattar” was able to reap a large number of views, hours after its broadcast began on August 24.
The comedy film “Sattar – The Return of the Legendary Mokhmas” starring Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj, Abdulaziz Al-Shehri and Ibrahim Al-Khairallah is now showing on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/3cl8IUvprJ
— Netflix MENA (@NetflixMENA) August 23, 2023
wider than the boundaries of the Saudi circuit
This young experience, coinciding with a remarkable renaissance in the cinematic sector in the Kingdom, was not fleeting at the Saudi box office. “Sattar” was able to achieve the highest sales in the history of Saudi cinema, while it had not been two weeks since the launch of its show.
And with the start of its broadcast on “Netflix”, it will not be surprising that its geographical circle of followers has expanded beyond the Saudi and Gulf borders. It is true that the story of the film and its characters come from Saudi society, but what distinguishes “Sattar” is the smoothness of the plot and the content of the narration that any viewer, wherever he is in the Arab world and the world, may find a reflection of him in it. Then the comedy comes to enhance that smoothness, without being overwhelmed by the cinematic work, as it does not go to the extent of exaggeration and does not steal from the glow of the other structural elements of the film.
The film simulates all those who believed in their big dreams and stuck to them, after they had forgotten them or stumbled into their madness. The cameras of Kuwaiti director Abdullah Al-Arak roam the streets of Riyadh, enter the house of the dreamy and light-hearted wrestler Saad “Sattar” and his workplace in a Saudi insurance company, then descend into the underground corridors of freestyle wrestling.
The places are Saudi, as well as the dialect, general mood, and music, but that locality does not stand in the way of meanings that can resonate in any society. Perhaps the most prominent component of the film’s magic mixture is its spontaneous and sincere simplicity, devoid of affectation and clamor aspiring to Hollywood standards.
The producer, Al-Sumaisi Films, one of the companies of Telfaz Studio 11, was right in its bet on the youth crew who carried the film on their shoulders. From a workshop of writers to actors, technicians and musicians.
“Saad” and bad luck
Saad could have been brought up to love football or car racing like all other boys, but his grandfather wanted to instill in him a love of wrestling. The grandfather lived to witness a dream that grows in his grandson’s head and in his imagination, and grows smaller within his physical and life capabilities.
Saad, whose role is brilliantly played by Saudi actor Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj, is doomed to a job whose boss he does not like, and a demanding future mother-in-law who disturbs his engagement and romance. But whenever he encounters a problem during his exhausting daily work and family, he escapes from reality, traveling in his imagination to the wrestling ring, where he always finds himself victorious.
Even when he was determined to take a step closer to his dream, making the decision to participate in the official wrestling championship qualifiers, Saad was faced with the reality of his physical and athletic unpreparedness. Then worse happened, and he was subjected to a campaign of bullying about his performance and his excessive weight, which made him a laughing stock on social media and among his family and colleagues.
The official poster of the movie “Sattar” (TV 11)
From Saad to “Sattar”
Bumps accumulate on Saad’s path, and ridicule and bullying surround him from every direction, until a phone rings, calling him to the “path of glory.” The camouflaged voice asks him: “Would you like to become a wrestler?” Saad finds only a “yes” answer.
As a genie emerging from the lantern, Abdulaziz Al-Shehri appears as the unique personality of “Ali Hougen”, with its strangeness and cuteness. Nothing in him suggests that he is capable of making wishes come true. He claims to be the manager of the most important wrestlers, and that he will take it upon himself to scatter roses on Saad’s path. However, his room is in ruins, and his pictures with wrestlers are composite and fake, and it is clear that he is mired in great financial problems.
But wait until he takes you to the “pit” or the underworld disguised under a car workshop, and to a parallel society of gladiators. In this suspicious circle, where illegal bets flourish, Saad turns into a “soothsayer” and “Hogan” invents him a new outfit and a mask that hides the features of the defeated wrestler who was ridiculed by everyone.
Abdulaziz Al-Shehri as Hogan – Business Manager of Sattar (Netflix)
The meaning of the word “settar” is “the five-pointed palm”, but light years lie between the newcomer’s settar and the iron fist that require him to be subjected to harsh training at the hands of the Pakistani wrestler “Abdul Khaleq”, whose role is played by Ibrahim Al-Khairallah. Abdel-Khaleq brings professionalism to Sattar, and with him many surprises that take him to the finals of the “Al-Hafrah” championship and beyond…
The victory of love
Despite the dominance of “action”, suspense and comedy, the film singles out space for romance through the relationship between Sattar and his fiancee, “Falwa”, played by the rising Saudi actress Shahd Al-Qafari. This sweet yet complex story humanizes the film.
Filwa submits to her mother’s will, despite her strong attachment to her fiancé, so she separates from him, but love triumphs; In a touching scene, the voice of the beloved resonates in Sattar’s ears while he is on the ring… “I will never forget you, my love, and I support you with all my heart. May God grant you success and see you as the greatest wrestler.
Actress Shahd Al-Qafari in her first cinematic experience as Falwa (Instagram)
“Sheila Sattar”
From the first shots of the film, it becomes clear that the techniques used in filming it are of a high degree of modernity and sophistication, without overshadowing the simplicity that characterizes the image. In addition, it seems clear that the training effort that was made with the actors, especially with Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj. The latter and his colleagues underwent a professional wrestling training course that lasted for 4 months, at the hands of a Saudi team specialized in this sport.
In “Sattar”, the soundtrack is not an integral component, but rather an essential part of the cinematic work. The film came out with a complete album (Original Soundtrack) that includes 8 songs that vary between rap, hip-hop, and Saudi folklore, including shilat, in addition to Indian and Pakistani tunes. And “Sheila Sattar” remains an enthusiastic milestone in the film.
