A Sinner in Mecca explained

A Sinner in Mecca
Director:Parvez Sharma
Producer:Parvez Sharma
Alison Amron
Andrew Herwitz
Editing:Alison Amron
Sajid Akbar
Cinematography:Parvez Sharma
Husain Akbar
Music:Sajid Akbar
M.E. Manning
Released:[1]
Runtime:79 minutes
Country:United States
Saudi Arabia
India
Language:English, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi

A Sinner in Mecca is a 2015 documentary film from director Parvez Sharma (A Jihad for Love). The film chronicles Sharma's Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia as an openly gay Muslim. The film premiered at the 2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival to critical acclaim [2] as well as negative controversies.[3] [4] [5] The film opened in theaters in the US on September 4, 2015, and is a New York Times Critics' Pick.[6]

Synopsis

A Sinner in Mecca enters a world that has been forbidden to non-Muslims for 14 centuries. Parvez Sharma documents his journey on an iPhone and two smuggled tiny cameras. On the streets of Mecca he joins 4 million other Muslim pilgrims from different traditions of Islam, fulfilling a lifelong calling for Hajj.

The film examines parts of the ideology that governs today’s Islamic extremism and what it has in common with Saudi Arabia’s Wahabi Islam. In the movie the filmmaker, an openly gay Muslim man, tries to find his own place within an Islam he has always known, an Islam that he believes bears no resemblance to Wahabi Islam.

In the movie the filmmaker sees himself as a longing Muslim, labeled an infidel, wondering if he can finally secure his place within this religion that condemns him.[7]

Production

A Sinner in Mecca is co-produced with Arte and ZDF in Europe.

The film is set in Saudi Arabia, India, and the United States.

Festivals

A Sinner in Mecca's European premiere was at the UK's Sheffield Doc/Fest where it was nominated for a Grand Jury Award. Additional security was provided.[8] The film won the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at Outfest in Los Angeles.[9] [10] [11]

A Sinner in Mecca premiered at the 2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival[12] and had a limited US theatrical release beginning on September 4, 2015. The film played at several international festivals including CPH Dox in November 2015[13] and IDFA in November 2015.[14] It won the Best Documentary Award at Image+Nation in Montreal in December, 2015.[15] The film was among those in consideration for an Academy Award on October 23, 2015.[16]

Controversy

The world premiere at Hot Docs required added security in response to online hate mail and death threats against the director.[17] [18]

The online abuse and death threats around the film continued through its theatrical release and its debut on iTunes, Netflix and television channels.[19]

The film was initially slated to be screened at the 26th Singapore International Film Festival.[20] Due to the country's conservative policies, permission to screen the film was withheld at the last minute.

Critical reception

The New York Times named the movie a Critics' Pick and said “Mr. Sharma has created a swirling, fascinating travelogue and a stirring celebration of devotion. We emerge from his film more enlightened.”[21] Critic Alan Scherstuhl in The Village Voice said “Next time you hear politicians or right-wing broadcasters asking why 'moderate' Muslims don't denounce terrorism, show them this movie.”[22] In a story on the film, The Washington Post called the film “Complex" and "Revelatory".[23] In a feature about the film, Yahoo News called the film “A Rebuke of Saudi Arabia”.[24]

The film received universal acclaim upon its 2015 Hot Docs premiere. The Hollywood Reporter called it “Wrenching… gritty… surreal and transcendent; Visceral and Abstract… a true act of courage and hope.”[25] The Guardian wrote, “With poetic simplicity… a delicately personal story and a call to action.”[26] OUT Magazine described it as “Brave... An unprecedented exploration of Islam.”[27] Indiewire wrote, “Powerful, Illuminating … a remarkable examination of contemporary Islam.”[28] BBC Persian called it “Shocking and Courageous”.[29] Screen Daily referred to the film as ““Unprecedented… Surreal.”[30] The Toronto Star called it “A deeply personal film about faith and forgiveness.”[31] Scroll.in said, “Deeply personal … High Drama … A protest against Saudi Arabia”.[32] Anne Thompson in Thompson on Hollywood wrote, “The film combines the political, the personal and the spiritual in a remarkable way”.[33] It has a score of 76% on Metacritic[34] and a score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.[35]

In a feature on the film, The Daily News said it was “(A) death defying religious journey.”[36] In its review of the film, The Daily News said “Compelling… takes its audience where no film has gone before”[37]

Christianity Today says the film is “Critical but not mocking”.[38]

Out magazine published an op-ed about Parvez Sharma's Hajj.[39]

Jahan News, an Iranian news agency, denounced the filmmaker for promoting “the disgusting act of homosexuality” and labeled the film "an attack on Islam."[40]

Awards

Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at Outfest in Los Angeles.[41]

Won a RapidLion for Best Documentary Feature, 2016[42]

Movies that Matter, The Hague, 2016[43]

Best Documentary, Image+Nation Film Festival, Montreal 2016[44] [45]

Best Documentary, Reeling Film Festival[46]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cinema Village - Movie Information. Cinema Village. 30 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150906145839/http://www.cinemavillage.com/chc/cv/show_movie.asp?movieid=3529. 2015-09-06. dead.
  2. Web site: Press. A Sinner in Mecca. 7 May 2015. 10 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181010033125/http://asinnerinmecca.com/press/. dead.
  3. News: Hot Docs: Film premiere brings online threats Toronto Star . The Star . 2018-03-24 . en . 2015-04-28 . Linda Barnard.
  4. News: Hot Docs: Cinema Security Heightened for 'A Sinner in Mecca' World Premiere. The Hollywood Reporter. 2018-03-24. en.
  5. Web site: Gay Muslim film-maker receives online abuse for hajj documentary. film. Guardian. 2015-05-01. the Guardian. en. 2018-03-24.
  6. News: In 'A Sinner in Mecca,' a Gay Director Ponders His Sexuality and Islamic Faith. The New York Times . 3 September 2015 . 7 October 2015 . Webster . Andy .
  7. Web site: About. A Sinner in Mecca. 7 May 2015. 11 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011195324/http://asinnerinmecca.com/about/. dead.
  8. Web site: Gay Muslim film-maker receives online abuse for hajj documentary. Guardian. film. May 1, 2015. the Guardian.
  9. News: 'A Sinner In Mecca' among 2015 Outfest winners. Screen. 2018-03-21. en.
  10. Web site: 'A Sinner In Mecca' among 2015 Outfest winners. Jeremy. Kay2015-07-19T18:18:00+01:00. Screen.
  11. Web site: 'A Sinner In Mecca' among 2015 Outfest winners. www.screendaily.com. 2015-12-21.
  12. Web site: Hot Docs Film Festival - A Sinner in Mecca. boxoffice.hotdocs.ca. 2015-12-21.
  13. Web site: A Sinner in Mecca. CPH:DOX. 2015-12-21. 2015-12-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222160559/http://cphdox.dk/en/programme/film/?id=3011. dead.
  14. Web site: A Sinner in Mecca IDFA. 2015-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222130146/https://www.idfa.nl/industry/tags/project.aspx?id=097b2c74-12f5-4dfd-aade-38913c603fd7&tab=idfa. 2015-12-22. dead.
  15. Web site: PRIX DU JURY / JURY AWARDS IMAGE+NATION. tickets.image-nation.org. 2015-12-21. 2015-12-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144549/http://tickets.image-nation.org/en/blog/prix-du-jury-jury-awards. dead.
  16. Web site: Oscars: Academy receives 124 documentary submissions. www.screendaily.com. 2015-12-21.
  17. News: Barnard. Linda. Hot Docs: Film premiere brings online threats. 7 May 2015. The Toronto Star.
  18. News: Vlessing. Etan. Hot Docs: Cinema Security Heightened for 'A Sinner in Mecca' World Premiere. 7 May 2015. The Hollywood Reporter.
  19. News: Duffy. Nick. Gay Muslim filmmaker 'terrified' after Mecca film leads to 'hate mail and threats'. 30 October 2015. Pinknews.
  20. Web site: A SINNER IN MECCA. Singapore International Film Festival. 27 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151204015453/http://sgiff.com/browse-all-films/sinner-in-mecca/. 2015-12-04. dead.
  21. News: In 'A Sinner in Mecca,' a Gay Director Ponders His Sexuality and Islamic Faith. The New York Times. 2015-09-03. 2015-11-10. 0362-4331. Andy. Webster.
  22. Web site: Insightful Doc 'A Sinner in Mecca' Finds a Gay Muslim Making an Unforgettable Pilgrimage. Village Voice. 3 September 2015 . 2015-11-10.
  23. News: Gay Muslim films secret pilgrimage in 'A Sinner in Mecca'. The Washington Post. 2015-09-10. 2015-11-10. 0190-8286. en-US. Rachel Lowry Religion News. Service.
  24. Web site: 'A Sinner in Mecca' documents gay Muslim pilgrimage. Yahoo News. 2015-11-10.
  25. Web site: Linden. Sheri. 'A Sinner in Mecca': Hot Docs Review. The Hollywood Reporter. May 2015 . 7 May 2015.
  26. News: Samiezade'-Yazd. Safa. A Sinner in Mecca: gay film-maker on 'a hajj of defiance'. The Guardian. 5 May 2015 . 7 May 2015.
  27. Web site: Mcdonald. James. A Sinner In Mecca Screens in Toronto. Out Magazine. 7 May 2015.
  28. Web site: Knegt. Peter. Parvez Sharma's Powerful 'A Sinner In Mecca' World Premieres at Hot Docs To Acclaim and Controversy. Indiewire. 7 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150508011434/http://blogs.indiewire.com/bent/parvez-sharmas-powerful-a-sinner-in-mecca-world-premieres-at-hot-docs-to-acclaim-and-controversy-20150501. 8 May 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  29. Web site: مستند 'گناهکاری در مکه'، روایت زیارت حج یک مسلمان همجنسگرا. BBC Persian. 24 April 2015 . 7 May 2015.
  30. Web site: Kay. Jeremy. Parvez Sharma, 'A Sinner In Mecca'. Screen Daily. 7 May 2015.
  31. Web site: Barnard. Linda. Hot Docs: Film premiere brings online threats. The Toronto Star. 28 April 2015 . 7 May 2015.
  32. Web site: Ramnath. Nandini. 'A Sinner in Mecca': Gay director risks death by filming his Haj pilgrimage. Scroll India. 22 April 2015 . 7 May 2015.
  33. Web site: Thompson. Anne. With 'A Sinner in Mecca,' Parvez Sharma Puts His Soul and More on the Line. Thompson on Hollywood. Indiewire. 31 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150831194623/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/with-a-sinner-in-mecca-parvez-sharma-puts-his-soul-and-more-on-the-line-exclusive-clip-and-poster-20150828. 31 August 2015. dead.
  34. Web site: A Sinner in Mecca. www.metacritic.com.
  35. Web site: A Sinner in Mecca. www.rottentomatoes.com.
  36. Web site: Gay filmmaker documents death-defying hajj in new movie. NY Daily News. 20 August 2015 . 2015-11-10.
  37. Web site: 'A Sinner in Mecca' review: Gay Muslim's compelling journey. NY Daily News. 3 September 2015 . 2015-11-10.
  38. Web site: The Long Tail: No Man Is An Island. ChristianityToday.com. 7 September 2015 . 2015-11-10.
  39. Web site: As a Gay Man, I Wondered if I Was Muslim Enough to Visit Mecca. www.out.com. 2015-11-10.
  40. Web site: Efforts to promote homosexuality in Iran. Jahan News. 27 April 2015. 7 May 2015.
  41. Web site: A SINNER IN MECCA Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. www.facebook.com. en. 2018-03-21.
  42. Web site: RapidLion - The South African International Film Festival. FilmFreeway. en. 2018-03-21.
  43. News: Launch of Movies That Matter: A Matter of ACT Programme - The Hague Online. 2016-03-10. The Hague Online. 2018-03-21. en-US.
  44. News: Toronto's Hot Docs adds extra security for controversial gay Muslim movie. CBC News. 2018-03-21. en.
  45. Web site: Image+nation. festival cinema lgbt montreal film festival. www.facebook.com. en. 2018-03-21.
  46. News: Reeling Film Festival Reels in Viewers with Visions of Progress. REPORTER. ARTS & CULTURE. Columbia Chronicle. 2018-03-21. en. 2020-04-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404185604/http://www.columbiachronicle.com/arts_and_culture/article_2bbc735e-5e83-11e5-9e89-1b916fa57396.html. dead.

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