Trailer for the documentary The Challenge.
In Qatar’s scenic desert, among SUVs and private jets, wealthy Arabs prepare for a falconry competition. An ancient tradition stretching back more than 40 centuries, falconry has become a pastime for the super-rich, absurdly at odds with their otherwise ultra-modern indulgences. Largely observational, stunning cinematography captures this incredible landscape, interspersed with breathtaking GoPro footage from the perspective of a falcon in flight. The 21st century urban lifestyle hinted at by the participants’ vehicles, smartphones and other tech toys feels out of place amidst the purity of the natural setting and the sport. The Challenge is an anthropological look at the clash of these elements, an aesthetic experience that itself is created with new digital technology, articulating the almost surreal meeting point of ancient and contemporary.