Recommendation: Documentary "A Stranger at the Gates," Directed by Josh Seftel

 Check out the documentary A Stranger at the Gate by Josh Seftel.

My only reservation is the pressure Muslims in the United States place on reverts to represent us. May Allah help all those in the documentary to continue on His path, especially Richard McKinney.

Recommendation: "The Blessed Bananas" by Tayyaba Syed and Illustrated by Melani Putri

I realized how much I liked The Blessed Bananas, written by Tayyaba Syed and illustrated by Melani Putri, when I started to describe the story to an elderly relative in Arabic. When I finished my version, I realize it differed in some ways from Tayyaba's text, yet it still worked, both as an entertaining narrative and a lesson in good behavior and morals.

I had recently read Watership Down by Richard Adams. Apart from the dramatic action, the interspersed stories the rabbits told about their ancestor ElAhrairah were entertaining. I had similarly tried to convey them to my relative.

So I feel like a raconteur!

قولوا علي قصاص

So you can use the wonderful illustrations in this book to tell your toddler Tayyaba's version of the story and then your version(s) of the story. Then, when the child grows older, you can repeat the process, and you and the child will be hearing a whole new set of stories.
 

Review: Film "Lamya's Poem" by Alex Kronemer

Lamya's Poem, from Unity Productions Foundation, is an imaginative and moving animated film which can appeal to a variety of audiences. It would be inaccurate to pigeon-hole Lamya's Poem into a category. Is it advocacy on behalf of migrants fleeing war and poverty? Is it therapy for individuals who have experienced trauma? Is it fan-fiction for Jalal al-Din Rumi? Is it a call to Muslims to orient their religious practice in a particular manner?

There are certainly aspects of these themes in the film. Might the film have been simpler to digest had it restricted itself to a more straightforward narrative and less avant-garde visuals? Perhaps, but isn't it time Muslim media productions went beyond macaroni & cheese to a more nuanced and subtle dish?

The film is animated, and it portrays children, but don't make the mistake of thinking it is a children's film. Don't think that you can stick it in your DVD player and have it babysit your 8 year old while you shop on eBay. I'm no expert in what's appropriate for children based on their ages, but I'd definitely sit and discuss this with a child during and after viewing.

My favorite visual effect was the transformation of the Mongol cavalry charge which haunted Jalal al-Din's memories into the police kettle which trapped Lamya and other migrants in an unregulated gathering site in an unnamed European city.

I have requested through my public library books which appeared in the film's credits as sources for the translations of Rumi's poetry.

For many years I've supported Unity Productions Foundation. I urge readers of this blog to watch its productions and support as able. I also gave the film a good rating at IMDB.

I was able to watch this film on Hoopla Digital for free through my public library membership. As the film reminds us, the first word of the revelation is "Read!".