A sinner in mecca three new documentaries reveal precarious, uncertain, and inscrutable queer existence in syria, israel, and saudi arabia. This is a provocative roadtrip through the heart of islam. From the recipient of a 2018 guggenheim fellow based on the new york times critic pick documentary the first book about the hajj from a gay perspective. While i liked the film, this book left a lot to be desired. For a gay filmmaker, filming in saudi arabia presents two serious challenges. Awardwinning documentary a sinner in mecca opens september 4. A gay muslim filmmaker goes inside the hajj the filmmaker parvez sharma, who is muslim and gay, used an iphone strapped to his neck with rubber bands for most of the footage in a sinner in mecca. Aug 12, 2015 recently recognized with the 2015 outfest grand jury award for best documentary feature, a sinner in mecca follows director parvez sharma a jihad for love as the openly gay muslim filmmaker documents his pilgrimage to mecca in saudi arabia, where filming is strictly prohibited and homosexuality is a crime punishable by death. Oct 04, 2015 the hajj of the film is visceral and brutal. Mecca is the most visited city in the world, yet forbidden to all but followers of islam.
With nothing more than his iphone, he joins 4 million fellow muslims on the pilgrimage to mecca. A sinner in mecca is a 2015 documentary film from director parvez sharma. There is a lot of matter repeated in consecutive chapters, and yet, he doesnt talk about the history of islam and the lineage in a cohesive manner. As a nonmuslim, i am not allowed in mecca but this film gives a. A gay muslim filmmaker goes inside the hajj the new york times. Sharma has created a swirling, fascinating travelogue and a stirring celebration of devotionwe emerge from his film more enlightened. In a sinner in mecca, a gay director ponders his sexuality. With a sinner in mecca, parvez sharma puts his soul and more on the line exclusive clips and poster. You may exchange or request a refund for your entire order, less the convenience fee, through fandango up until the posted showtime.
Sep 27, 2015 a gay muslim filmmaker goes inside the hajj the filmmaker parvez sharma, who is muslim and gay, used an iphone strapped to his neck with rubber bands for most of the footage in a sinner in mecca. A sinner in mecca is sharmas selfdirected documentation of his struggle to reconcile his sexuality with his devout muslim beliefs and to. Aug 31, 2015 filmmaker parvez sharma whose new film made by a gay muslim pilgrim offers a englishspeaking western audience a warts and all view of the annual pilgrimage to mecca in a documentary that has. Released september 4th, 2015, a sinner in mecca stars the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 19 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic, which. Well refund your credit card or we can credit your fandango account to use for another movie. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto. Sep 02, 2015 a sinner in mecca is sharmas selfdirected documentation of his struggle to reconcile his sexuality with his devout muslim beliefs and to assuage the guilt he feels over having been. A sinner in mecca will go on cinema release in new york on friday but the story started almost four years ago. Parvez sharma 2015 filmmaker parvez sharma is both a devout muslim and gay. Recently recognized with the 2015 outfest grand jury award for best documentary feature, a sinner in mecca follows director parvez sharma a jihad for love as the openly gay muslim filmmaker documents his pilgrimage to mecca in saudi arabia, where filming is strictly prohibited and homosexuality is a crime punishable by death. Youll have to complete your refund and exchange before the posted showtime indicated on your ticket. Filmmaker parvez sharma whose new film made by a gay muslim pilgrim offers a englishspeaking western audience a warts and all view of the annual pilgrimage to mecca in a documentary that has. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing a sinner in mecca near you. The film chronicles sharmas hajj pilgrimage to mecca, saudi arabia as an openly gay muslim.
The movie itself starts with a chat room conversation on a homosexual website with a saudi who just witnessed an execution of a gay man. The book focuses on wahhabism, daesh, saudi arabia, and the position of islam in the indian subcontinent. Then i began writing the book that would say everything the film was not able to. A sinner in mecca 2015 filmmaker parvez sharma embarks on the hajj, the pilgrimage to mecca, saudi arabia. The film was a beautiful insight into a very personal account of. This film offers a first look into that forbidden world, and into the faith that at once demands and withholds so much from its faithful. The soul of islam lives in saudi arabia, sharma says. Aug 14, 2015 a sinner in mecca official trailer 1 2015 documentary hd for a gay filmmaker, filming in saudi arabia presents two serious challenges. A sinner in mecca trailer 2015 trailer for a sinner in mecca. A sinner in mecca is personal documaking at its most strident, puffed up with righteousness as sharma justifiably argues that saudi arabias wahabi fundamentalism runs counter to the. Oct 14, 2015 sharmas newest film, a sinner in mecca, shot in saudi arabia in 2011, is a deeply personal and moving film that covers an event that nonmuslims can only see in pictures in a country.
Some may find sharmas pilgrimage too introspective to be accessible, but his bravery in making a film like a sinner in mecca cannot be denied. Here, we enter the city of mecca that has been forbidden to nonmuslims for 14 centuries. Sharma, who is also gay and muslim, takes viewers on his 2011 hajj, or pilgrimage, to islams most sacred. Sharmas memoir, a sinner in mecca, was released on august 15 of this year, and chronicles his journey to saudi arabia to embark on hajj the islamic pilgrimage to meccaa trip that put his life at risk. To fulfill his religious duty, he goes on a pilgrimage to mecca in saudi arabia. The film was a beautiful insight into a very personal account of a religious journey, said meenu. A gay muslim filmmaker goes inside the hajj the new york. A sinner in mecca documents gay muslim pilgrimage daily.
A sinner in mecca 2015 for a gay filmmaker, filming in saudi arabia presents two serious challenges. A sinner in mecca explores what it means to believe in the face of religious. The trailer for parvez sharmas new film, a sinner in mecca, with its pulsating music, tortured bodies, and scary news clips, depicts a sensationalism worthy of the most crass of islamophobic films. The film premiered at the 2015 hot docs canadian international documentary festival to critical acclaim as well as negative controversies. For gay filmmaker parvez sharma, filming in saudi arabia presents two serious challenges filming is forbidden in the country and homosexuality is punishable by death. The film, shot guerrilla style on an iphone and smuggled cameras, documents sharmas hajj pilgrimage in saudi arabia, a nation where homosexuality is illegal. Sep 29, 2015 a sinner in mecca is personal documaking at its most strident, puffed up with righteousness as sharma justifiably argues that saudi arabias wahabi fundamentalism runs counter to the. Synopsis after releasing his film a jihad for love, exploring islam and homosexuality, parvez sharma is a marked man, having been publicly labelled an infidel. A sinner in mecca official trailer 1 2015 documentary hd for a gay filmmaker, filming in saudi arabia presents two serious challenges. My unprecedented journey, which forms the core of a sinner in mecca, reveals for the first time some of those secrets. The journey of indianborn filmmaker parvez sharma began in 2011, when he embarked on the annual pilgrimage known as hajj. A sinner in mecca gay muslim filmmaker parvez sharma takes a forbidden camera with him to mecca to film his pilgrimage.
The film which premiers in april during torontos hot docs festival follows his journey on. Parvez sharma, a muslim and gay filmmaker, documents his hajj pilgrimage in his new film, a sinner in mecca. Dec 06, 2015 after releasing his film a jihad for love, exploring islam and homosexuality, parvez sharma is a marked man, having been publicly labelled an infidel. His written work is based on his 2015 documentary of the same name, which visually depicts sharmas religious pilgrimage. Controversial gay muslim film has world premiere in. A sinner in mecca three new documentaries reveal precarious, uncertain, and inscrutable queer existence. Gay muslim films secret pilgrimage in a sinner in mecca. A sinner in mecca is a suitably messy mix of the gritty and the surreal, the wrenching and the transcendent, from the midst of the trek to islams holiest site. The film opened in theaters in the us on september 4, 2015 and is a new york times critics pick. For gay filmmaker parvez sharma, filming in saudi arabia during the hajj presents two serious challenges filming is forbidden and homosexuality in saudi arabia is punishable by death. Sharma, who is also gay and muslim, takes viewers on his 2011 hajj, or pilgrimage, to islams most sacred sites. The film, shot guerrilla style on an iphone and smuggled cameras, documents sharmas hajj pilgrimage in saudi arabia, a.
A sinner in mecca official trailer 1 2015 documentary. A sinner in mecca is a 2015 documentary film from director parvez sharma a jihad for love. A sinner in mecca is proving to be the most controversial film at this years hot docs festival in toronto for indianborn, new yorkbased, openly gay. Born today most popular celebs most popular celebs celebrity news. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. In any case a threeyear struggle ensued and we had another world first a sinner in mecca, a film in mecca and medina shot entirely on an iphone. Parvez sharma risks death to illegally film his hajj pilgrimage an act made more daring by the fact that hes gay. A gay muslims hajj of defiance is the first book by parvez sharma, released on august 15, 2017, by publisher benbella books. But sharma is unwilling to give up the faith that has been overshadowed by. Sep 10, 2015 gay muslim films secret pilgrimage in a sinner in mecca. Parvez sharma is now a 2018 guggenheim fellowplease do visit our onestop designed from scratch website at. With a sinner in mecca, parvez sharma puts his soul and. And yes, a sinner in mecca, the nyt critics pick film and later very dissimilar book book with the same title, and the film a jihad for love are still changing minds globally.
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