Durch die Wüste is a weirdly dusty trip

Is this thing worth a watch?

If you like old-school, slightly creaky adventure movies that feel like they were filmed during a lunch break, you might find something to like here. If you need pacing that moves faster than a camel with a limp, you will absolutely hate it. It’s for people who enjoy movies that smell like old film stock and stage glue.

Kara posing as a doctor is one of those plot points that sounds like a great idea in the script but looks kind of silly on screen. Every time he has to pretend to heal someone, you can see the actor trying to remember his lines. It’s charming in a 'let’s just get through this scene' kind of way.

The desert setting is the real star here, even if it’s mostly just a bunch of sand and rocks. There’s a scene where they enter a 'holy' city that feels strangely hollow. Like they rented the set for four hours and had to make it count before the sun went down. 🏜️

I couldn’t help but think about how much this reminded me of the slow, methodical pace of Timothy's Quest, except with more kidnappings and fewer children just wandering around. At least here, there’s a clear goal, even if the road to getting there is mostly just people talking while walking in circles.

The weird stuff

• The romantic subplot feels like it was tacked on because someone said, 'Hey, we need a girl here.'
• The costumes are so clean for people trekking through the desert. It’s actually distracting.
• Abu Seif is a villain who mostly just stands there looking grumpy.

Halef falling in love with the daughter is... well, it happens. It’s not really earned, but it gives them something to do besides dodge the sand. The whole thing feels a bit like a sketch for a better movie, maybe something like the frantic energy of Chasing Trouble, but much, much quieter.

Honestly, the best part is just watching the background. Sometimes you catch a glimpse of someone who clearly isn't supposed to be there. It’s that kind of movie. You don't watch it for the high art. You watch it to see how they pulled it off with, what, three cameras and a bucket of sand?

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even a particularly good movie by modern standards. But there’s a pulse to it. It’s alive in that weird, old-fashioned way. I’d take this over some sterile, CGI-heavy mess any day of the week. 🎞️