Islam
Carried by Idir Ben Addi’s brilliant performance, Young Ahmed is an intriguing character study of one young man’s fanaticism, though one is still left wanting something more.
In this extensive interview, Musanna Ahmed spoke to Minhal Baig about audience preconceptions of Hala, portraying the diaspora, her family’s response, Ms. Marvel and much more.
Minhal Baig marries an American indie aesthetic with a uniquely immigrant narrative for something fresh, vital and worthwhile.
Jinn is a colorful portrait of the complexities in life, love and religion that succeeds as a character study far more than as a plot-driven story.
Ali’s Wedding is an unabashed presentation of a Muslim love story that feels both brave and necessary.
The adventures of Ms. Marvel aka Kamala Khan are already among Marvel’s highest selling comic book properties – and bringing her story to the big screen would not only be a financial success, but a cultural one, too.
Hazem Fahmy examines The Big Sick and its failure to dive into the complexities and challenges of hybrid, first-generation identity Muslim Americans.
The arresting visuals at their most peculiar would be the biggest reason to recommend Sheikh Jackson, but it’s worth watching as a good coming-of-age story with a nuanced depiction of faith and a strong character arc at the centre.
Every year, we get countless reports that there isn’t enough diversity in Hollywood storytelling. In the past couple of weeks alone, GLAAD’s annual media report has shown that LGBT diversity is only visible in TV, whilst Asian-American actors have begun a protest website called “Starring John Cho”, to highlight the lack of leading roles given to people of their ethnicity. A story that needs to be told There was a line in GLAAD’s celebration of diversity in independent cinema that rung alarmingly true, as they highlighted that diverse audiences shouldn’t have to look to the arthouses for films that relate to them.
When we come across words like Arabic, Iranian, Palestinian, or any other Middle Eastern nationality, we immediately think of the difference in culture. Especially when it comes to women, we think of Islam’s (justified or not justified) reputation as an opponent of gender equality, an oppressor of women and the rule of men. This preconceived notion is slowly being challenged with a flood of films from the Middle East.
Naz and Maalik are not your average lead characters. They are gay, Muslim teenagers living a relatively quiet life in Brooklyn. When they aren’t selling lotto tickets and other cheap items on the street for cash, they are discussing college, their religious beliefs, and their relationship, which they largely avoid defining.
Watch Our Lad here. Our Lad, brought lovingly to life by director Rachna Suri, is a compelling insight into a British Muslim community and the conflict between two brothers. The short film stars Shazad Latif (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as a young Muslim soldier returning from Afghanistan to an antagonistic brother and community.
