'MO - September 2008 - (Page 22)

p/reviews Click here to comment on these stories. FEATURE FILM REVIEW A Jihad for Love Reviewed by Matthew McQuilkin Directing: B Writing: B+ Cinematography: B Editing: B Overall: B It’s no secret that Islam as a whole condemns homosexuality—there are indeed places on Earth where being gay is punishable by stoning to death. That’s not just a stereotype; it’s a sad truth. The commonly held attitudes toward homosexuality by Muslims are strikingly similar to that of Christians (both often cite the story of Sodom and Gomorrah); it’s just by and large far more severe. What director Parvez Sharma does with the documentary A Jihad for Love is reveal more than just the Muslim oppression of gay people—he shows the struggle gay Muslims go through when they are unwilling to deny their true selves, both in terms of sexuality and in terms of religion. This is a film that stands apart for that reason, as it features exclusively devout Muslims—who happen to be gay. It’s not “Islam-vs.-homosexuality” so much as it’s an examination of how the two can coexist peacefully. Not very easily, of course: The film opens with an outspoken gay Muslim on a radio show, speaking in defense of homosexuality, and greeted by the predictable barrage of hateful calls from listeners, many of them stating he should be put to death. But as truly heartbreaking as A Jihad for Love can be, it also serves as a shining beacon of hope, as it literally puts a face on the issue in a way no one else ever has before. This act is underscored by the select, incredibly brave individuals willing to allow their faces to be shown on camera, even while many faces around them are blurred—something that is a constant presence in the film. The arguments for the legitimacy of homosexuality within the context of Islam is also very similar to the defenses made of homosexuality within Christianity: it’s a question of context, of time and place, and of how the holy texts are interpreted. On the one hand there are those who argue that the text, as read literally, is not directly applicable to the lives of modern Muslims; on the other hand there are the fundamentalists and clerics who insist that there is no such thing as “interpretation”—the text says what it says. Muslims and Christians in general can have all the differences they want, but any gay person who has struggled to reconcile their sexuality with their faith, regardless of their religious background, can hear this debate and relate to feeling stuck in the crossfire. The difference is that, worldwide, Islam is generally far more dangerous for gay people. Sharma follows two gay couples ﬂeeing Iran and gaining refugee status in Turkey, where they are stuck in limbo. Another young gay man who happened to be one of the “Cairo 52” men who were arrested in Egypt and were sent to prison; he now lives in France. We also meet a few lesbians, a couple of them actually inviting the camera crew along as one introduces her partner to her startlingly accepting mother for the first time. And all of these are people who have not chosen to reject their Muslim upbringings, but rather have found a way to fit their sexuality into their religious and spiritual lives. Even as it examines the horrific treatment gay people get in many Muslim countries, this exhibition of defiance is ultimately very uplifting. A Jihad for Love moves at a fairly slow pace, making it feel a bit longer than its 81 minutes, and the cinematography (by a team of three people, including Sharma) can get a little shaky and sloppy. But these quibbles are forgivable considering what challenges there must have been, both in finding these openly gay people and in filming in so many different countries with large Muslim populations, from Iran to India. What the film lacks in technical execution, it makes up for in content, which is consistently thought provoking, poignant, sad, and touching—but always with an undercurrent of hope. A Jihad for Love opens Friday, September 5 at the Varsity Theater. Read more of Matthew’s reviews of current and past ﬁlms on the Web at http://cinema-holic. livejournal.com. Four Iranian refugees share a bittersweet moment, as seen in A Jihad for Love. 22 celebrating seattle’s gay community http://cinema-holic.livejournal.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - September 2008

'MO - September 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Voices Instant Activist Pet Project Legally Speaking: Starting Your Own Business EarthTalkTM: Soak Up the Sun ’mo-BIZ: Sternola-Brown Interiors HRC President Hails Biden as V.P. Pick Governor to Attend Annual GSBA Candidate Forum Form & Function: Cable Exercises Build Definition Gay City Health Project Makes a SHIFT Throw a Lifejacket Around Your Home’s Value Feature Film Review: A Jihad for Love Feature Film Review: Ghost Town, starring Ricky Gervais The Return of The Puyallup Fair Book Review: Life with My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone Live Event Preview: Shrek The Musical at The 5th Avenue Feature Film Preview: Trumbo Now on DVD: Itty Bitty Titty Committee SceneOut: People@Places Capitol Hill Guide

'MO - September 2008

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