I’ve learned that just because a movie may not be great doesn’t mean that it’s not worth recommending. Sometimes you have to support a film just because of the subject matter alone which will provoke thinking and dialogue. Such is the case with Mooz-Lum. The film which opens in theatres Feb. 11, addresses the identity crisis of a young Muslim man (Evan Ross) wrestling with his faith and the pressures of assimilation. While the film’s screenplay and direction are marked by several weak moments, the movie makes up for its deficiencies with heart and an all-too-rare depiction of the Muslim community. During a private media screening in New York City with the movie’s writer-director Qasim “Q” Basir, actress Nia Long and producer Dana Offenbach, rolling out uncovered three reasons to see Mooz-Lum.
It’s Time to Look Beyond Stereotypes
The Muslim community has rarely been portrayed as in-depth as they are in this film. One of the standout performances is delivered by Nia Long whose character is a departure from the media’s representation of the submissive Muslim woman. Instead, Long infuses the character with strength and courage shattering stereotypes in the process. Long notes, “I wanted to represent a contemporary woman who was strong and wasn’t afraid to make her own choices about … her family and how it relates to her religion.
Show Hollywood that Black Audiences Expect More
Hollywood doesn’t seem to understand the black audience and some of that is our own community’s fault. Too often we support buffoonery and fail to recognize black films that explore serious subject matter. Hence, Hollywood believes that there is no audience for dramatic high-quality content. “As an African American filmmaker they have an expectation of you to make comedies, but this is not the Tyler Perry audience. So they don’t understand who is gonna watch this and that’s the whole attitude,” explains Q.
Prove That the Numbers Don’t Lie
When Q and Offenbach realized that Hollywood wasn’t going to support their film, they took matters into their own hands. The two launched an aggressive social media campaign that led to a unique distribution deal with AMC Theatres and a partnership with the digital media company, Eventful, to promote the film’s release. Hollywood only understands numbers, so the more financial success this film has the better are our chances of more diverse black films in the mainstream.
MOOZ-lum Theatrical Trailer from Qasim Basir on Vimeo.
For more information, visit www.moozlumthemovie.com
–souleo
