When it was first released on Netflix in August, Ras B Ras quickly became the most-watched Saudi-made film in the streaming service’s history. It was (another) clear sign of a couple of things: the continual development of the Kingdom’s film industry is going well, and that in Malik Nejer and Abdulaziz Al-Muzaini, there are two very capable talents to help take it forward.
The plot of Ras B Ras (‘Head to Head’ in English) is wonderfully ludicrous. Taking place in the fantastical world of Bathaikha, the film follows a clumsy chauffeur (skillfully played by Adel Redwan) trying to make an honest living. But fate has other plans for him when he accidentally picks up a retired crime boss at the airport. Little does he know that this simple mix-up will turn his life upside down. The old man’s gang, hell-bent on protecting their boss, is hot on the driver’s tail and won’t rest until they get him back. What follows is a series of hijinks and action sequences as he teams up with Abu Ghadrah (Ziyad Alamri), and Fayadh (Abdulaziz Alshehri), the newly appointed CEO of Sheikhs’ Chauffeur limo company. Together, they concoct a plan to fool the gang into thinking their boss is still alive and kicking.
Upon release it became the most watched film on Netflix, with millions of streams keeping it atop the charts for two straight weeks. The film received universal praise for its cinematic elements, as well as its original plot line that seems to merge the absurdist comedy Weekend At Bernie’s and the creativity of Seth Rogan comedy This Is The End.
While Ras B Ras may be Nejer (director) and screenwriter Al-Muzaini’s first feature film success, it is by no means their first taste of success. Following the critical acclaim of the wildly-popular animated TV series, Masameer, the talented duo have established themselves as big time players in the Saudi film industry. By crossing over abstract storytelling from animation into live-action Ras B Ras is a different beast and showcases a transcendent filmmaking skillset.
Similar to their work on Masameer, the characters are well-developed and likeable; the humour is sharp and witty. However, perhaps the most key element to the film’s success is how the filmmakers set about creating the world of Bathaikha. It is a strange and absurd place, but at the same time somewhat familiar and relatable. According to the writer, the world was inspired by a mixture of sources, one of which is the southern neighbourhoods of Riyadh in the late ’90s—giving it a sense of local authenticity and familiarity.
The delicate balance between plot and location, between realism and fantasy, between comedy and action is the reason for the film’s success—and simply adds more weight to the talents of director and screenwriter duo of Nejer and Al-Muzaini.
“If you watch most of the Saudi films today, you won’t know the director and writer,” Al-Muzaini tells Esquire, “because the industry is still young, most of them do not have a distinctive style or vision yet. That is where we want to get to. I want to reach the stage when audiences see the ‘Sirb’ logo [of Al-Muzaini’s production company] at the beginning of the film, then they know the high standard that they will get.”