A Sinner in Mecca

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Synopsis:

For a gay filmmaker, filming in Saudi Arabia presents two serious challenges: filming is forbidden in the country and homosexuality is punishable by death. For filmmaker Parvez Sharma, however, these were risks he had to assume as he embarked on his Hajj pilgrimage, a journey considered the greatest accomplishment and aspiration within Islam, his religion. On his journey Parvez aims to look beyond 21st-century Islam’s crises of religious extremism, commercialism and sectarian battles. He brings back the story of the religion like it has never been told before, having endured the biggest jihad there is: the struggle with the self.

Quick Thoughts:

After his film “A Jihad to Love” in 2007, filmmaker Parvez Sharma brings us a new documentary with “A Sinner In Mecca”, along with sense of fright one only expect from a horror film. The reason for this is because in this documentary, Parvez travels to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for his Hajj. In Saudi Arabia, it is forbidden to film and it’s forbidden to be homosexual. He literally risks his life throughout the film to bring us such the powerful and insightful film he has. It’s mostly filmed with just his iPhone, carried by himself and often filming covertly to avoid being discovered. But “A Sinner In Mecca” is not just him documenting a Muslim’s Hajj, but also of his own personal Hajj.

If you are not a Muslim, I encourage you to watch “A Sinner In Mecca”. It gives an oversight into the faith that is hard to research and learn. The actual locations in Mecca that Parvez shows us cannot be seen by most of us – that alone makes this film watchable. But better than that, this documentary is a powerful story of how a gay Muslim comes to acknowledge and accept all of who he is. While IMDB scores “A Sinner In Mecca” rather low at 4.5/10.0, I’d give it an 8.0 because despite being filmed on a phone camera, it’s daring and eye-opening. Take the evening and learn something new about a culture and religion you might not know much.

Watched?

Yes

Worth It?

Thumbs Up

Where to Buy/Rent/Stream

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Country:

Language:

Release Date:

4 October, 2015

Duration:

1h19m

Director:

Parvez Sharma

Writers:

Parvez Sharma, Sajid Akbar, Alison Amron

Stars:

Parvez Sharma