Mooz-lum explores how Muslims also wrestle with G-d

Producer Dana Offenbach, Nia Long & director Qasim Basir                      

 

The experience of non-Christians in America is usually characterized by isolation within tight knit circles, religious observances that are kept secret and family practices that are misunderstood. Now take the story of a Black Muslim boy, a Mooz-lum, in Detroit, a city with the highest population of Muslims in the U.S., and the scenario gets even more complex.  A minority within a minority, there are more Mooz-lums in the U.S. than Muslims of Arabic descent, but the truth is Mooz-lums live on the outskirts of Blackness  and on the inside of a religion that eludes even the most devout.

                The film Mooz-lum is written and directed by Qasim Basir , and follows the story of Tariq Mahdi(Evan Ross), young Mooz- lum boy trying to find his place within the secular culture of America. The story begins as Tariq enters college and inevitably feels pulled between two cultures. The film transcends the limitations of individual religions and speaks to heart of anyone who grew up in the sphere of a religious community to find themselves thrust into secular society upon adulthood. Basir, who grew up Muslim took inspiration from his own life. He says the film is about telling a story and allowing others to see inside of a religion that mystifies many in the U.S.

“When you take away a certain level of ignorance from a person you are doing your job. This is how I decided to make movies in this manner. I don’t know how to do it any other way,” Basir says. “Everything is my life has happened to bring me where I am right now.”

Basir reveals the complexities of growing up with a strict Muslim father (Roger Guenveur Smith), who came to Islam in a time of turmoil. He juxtaposes his childhood experience of watching his mother (Nia Long) and sister take on submissive female roles to living on a college campus where women showoff bare legs and drink alcohol at parties. Though, the Muslim religion provided him with a strong upbringing Basir reveals cracks in the foundation and confronts the abuse he suffered at the hands of those who were supposed to protect and nurture him. Basir’s experiences reveal an imperfect religion, but like most Eastern religions is the center of the universe for its followers.

“When you are young you don’t understand a lot of the things about religion, because you are a child,” Basir says. “In the film the father represents a majority of Muslim men who came to Islam in the 60’s They were hard and that is how they raised us. You sort of forget about the kid being raised in American society. All you’re saying is to be Muslim.”

As Tariq finds out what it means to wrestle with G-d, amid the Sept. 11 attacks you see how the very religion he tries to leave behind created a man willing to stand up for what is right and face obstacles with a fearlessness and faith that few possess. Dan Offenbach, producer of the film, says the power of the film is that Basir’s maturity explores the good, the bad and how it all comes full circle.

“I really watched his growth as a filmmaker which I found interesting, but what was more interesting is the stories he wants to tell,” Offenbach says. “I’m the Jewish producer and we had a couple more Jews and Christians on staff but everyone understood this a global story and an important story.”

In the end, Basir says the most important message derives from a line spoken by Taqua (Kimberly Drummond), Tariq’s sister.

“Please don’t let a few people shape your view on an entire faith, because what I have seen and so many others have seen is beautiful.”