Perishable Idol (2025)

-Written by Michelle Vorob.

2025 CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! 

Perishable Idol is a visually majestic creative [short] documentary. As the film opens, we see stunning blue water, with a muted skyline far in the distance. For a second, I found myself thinking it looked like it could be the lost city of Atlantis. This is the island of Failaka, off the coast of Kuwait. Once a cultural and commercial hub, there are structures and artifacts dating back thousands of years. Failaka is [technically] abandoned since The Gulf War in 1990, but people take day trips to see the abandoned villages. 

Perishable Idol follows “Native-turned-archeologist” Hassan Al-Failakawy as he returns to Failaka to help restore various historical sites. We see a blend of ancient ruins and ordinary street shots. We see the contemplative look on Al-Failakawy's face. We hear a story as if it's told in the words of an ancient and powerful deity of Failaka, Inzak of Dilmun. 

Al-Failakawy is seen working and exploring historic sites, as well as making a symbolic offering to Inzak. I've always been fascinated by ancient ruins. I can't help but imagine what living and worshipping in that era was like. I appreciated the creative style of Perishable Idol, in that it not only explores an individual's perspective of culture, history, and destruction, but also puts forth the supposition that history itself, “the gods”, the universe sees and judges us.

Perishable Idol reminds us that preservation of historical sites is one of the most important ways we can honor our shared history and, ideally, learn from our pasts. We need ancient knowledge, so much of which has been lost forever. 

Points North Institute has stated The Camden International Film Festival is taking place at various venues in Camden and Rockland, Maine, from September 11th through the 14th, without a virtual festival this year. If you're in the area and would like to attend, you can purchase tickets in person or online [pointsnorthinstitute.org].

Written & Directed by Majid Al-Remaihi.

Starring Hassan Al-Failakawy.

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING