By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Parvez Sharma
Country: australia, france, germany, united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2008
Running time: 81
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780046/
Michael says: “This is one of those films that I find very difficult to review. Focusing on the horrific plight of the homosexual Muslim, it’s an important film with a story that needs to be told, yet as a film its shortcomings are occasionally distracting. Eight years in the making, Sharma travels two a plethora of countries where Muslim is a dominant religion, and tells the tales of a handful of gays and lesbians. The stories are horrific, powerful, and educational. Some of the subjects are more engaging than others, often the case in this type of film, but all of them have important stories to be told. The tragedy of this film is that those stories are probably echoed thousands of times throughout the Muslim community.
“The film was very strongly received by the audience, and the powerful Q&A featuring the director, producer, and two of the films subjects was thought-provoking. Fortunately, the team intends to work diligently to get this film in front of the Muslim community where it is so desperately needed. 2 1/2 cats
“A JIHAD FOR LOVE screened at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival”
Bruce says: “A JIHAD FOR LOVE is a film about how gay and lesbian Muslims reconcile their faith and sexual orientation. In the context of the film jihad means struggle. This is an important distinction since many Westerners have come to think of a jihad as an irrational holy war or crusade.
“At the beginning of the film, an Iranian states ‘we can play with semantics but homosexuality is a crime in every religion. According to the Qur’an, the punishment in Islam is death. The only question is how to die.’ Personally, I have serious problems with both organized religions and totalitarian states. I am amazed how people risk their lives to live in a country that supports a religion that says homosexuals should die. In South Africa, Mushan is an openly gay teacher. His in-your-face style doesn’t skirt any issues. He asks the children in his class ‘Should gays be stoned to death?’ Some reply, ‘Yes.’ A few years ago he was asked to leave Islam; today he is approached by Muslims to help them understand issues. In many respects the nascent gay movement in Islamic countries is struggling in ways parallel to the gay movement in America during the first two-thirds of the twentieth century.
“The film visits lesbians in Turkey, France and Egypt. Gay men from Iran, South Africa, Pakistan, India, and Egypt are interviewed. In some countries the only way to escape death is to leave via an underground movement that will get them to Turkey (an Islamic country with a secular government), France or Canada. With the Internet, the options for the persecuted are now fortunately more obvious and plentiful. For gay Muslims with no education, the options are few.
“As for the stories, I particularly liked the whirling dervishes, the teacher from South Africa, the parade in Pakistan honoring gay lovers in Islamic folklore, and the drag party in Paris. To Sharma’s credit, he mixes contrasting visual styles into his film which lends a much needed variety. By the end of the film I found many of the scenarios a bit monotonous and began wishing to see a Muslim or two who had simply given up on their faith. I know, I know. Keeping one’s faith is what A JIHAD FOR LOVE is all about.
“Never before have I had tears in my eyes during the Q & A after a screening while remaining dry-eyed throughout the film. Parvez Sharma spent six years in making this film and the subjects – from something like twelve different countries – have become an international family in the process. Two of the prominently featured men in the film appeared at its premiere and it was an emotional moment for the audience as well as the filmmakers and cast. 3.5 cats
“A JIHAD FOR LOVE screened at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival”