20130827: Documentary Review--Gay Muslims

Gay Muslims

1. UK made for TV live action documentary, 2006, NR, 49 minutes. 
2. IMDB: 7.1/10.0 from 29 users.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: no search results, not even a stub.  Perhaps it's the television association.
4. Directed by Cara Lavan.
5. Gay and lesbian Muslims face a variety of negative consequences when they come out, such as 'you have to be stoned to death,' or similar.  Gay Muslims tend to keep their sexual lives secret.
6. Several scenes are filmed with 'no faces' so that no one will be identified later.
7. Case stories:
8. Razeem: has known he was gay for 8 years; was outed to his father after 6 of those 8.
9. He has little support from his parents.  The gay community (at least in the north of England) has substantial racism in it, being divided into white, Asian, black groups.  So the gay community is also dicey.  Razeem gets to know Adnan a bit, and their discussion help Razeem's piece of mind.  Back at home, he still has problems dealing with his family and friends.  Eventually he decides to go with the model of marrying a woman and acting like he's mainstream Muslim so that he can stay connected to his family.
10. Adnan Ali.  From Pakistan, where he received a number of beatings.  Campaigns for gay rights in the UK.  His partner is a white UK man, some there's a double problem.
11. Abdullah, in his late 30s, lives in the Midlands.  He is treated badly at the local mosque.  He submitted to an arranged marriage, which resulted in 3 children that he sired.  His wife left him with the children.  Soon thereafter, he was beaten and his children taken.  He obtained visitation rights, but after he came out, she made that very difficult, and he has not seen them for years.  The ex-wife becomes single again.  Abdullah's mother pressures him to re-marry the ex-wife and live with her for the sake of the children.  An imam advises him that thousands of British men are denied rights to see their children despite court orders in their favor.
12. Farah is a lesbian living on her own.  After coming out, her mother's first visit back to Pakistan did not include an invite for Farrah.  Did some self-cutting, and had thoughts of suicide.  Attempts to have relationships with men failed.  Has fears that her relationship with her family will disappear.
13. Shakir has known he was gay since he was old enough to read.  His parents could not accept his being gay, but did agree to discuss the matter on camera.
14. Gay pride parade: Adnan and his partner go to it.  They get some ill looks from Asian gays.
15. The sayings of the president of Iman, a gay-Islam group, are a bit hard to take while she's got her head and face covered, and the rest of her is covered in camouflage and boots.
16. The cliches of the whole complicated situation are covered at a depth of about half an inch.
17. Three stars of five.

Cinematography: 7/10 Not the best.

Sound: 10/10 Always clear.

Acting: N/A

Screenplay: 6/10 Airs the main issues, but does not seem to accomplish much in 49 minutes.