The Balance review – film about Muslim entertainers treads a fine line | Film
In this survey of the increasing Islamic leisure trade, The Stability presumably refers back to the line faith-based artists should stroll with respect to non secular strictures. As one interviewee places it: “It’s a must to push the boundaries, however on the similar time you fall sufferer to potential sins, as a result of typically that’s what a sin is.” British film-maker Abrar Hussain’s documentary turns into notably extra involving when, three-quarters of the way in which in, it begins to delve into such religious predicaments. Previous to this, it’s a cheerleading whistlestop tour by means of Islamic music, movie, social media and comedy that solely fitfully engages with the deeper points.
Typically referring to the “we” of the ummah, Hussain makes the curious option to principally preach to the transformed, whereas selecting reference factors that have to be a bit apparent to them. The Stability opens with eulogies to self-taught in style missionary Ahmed Deedat and Muhammad Ali; OK, they had been entertaining, however the movie is obscure on how they relate to a wider trade. Moustapha Akkad’s 1977 epic The Message, which instructed the Prophet’s story with out depicting him straight, leads the part on cinema. However as soon as once more, this consultant instance – attention-grabbing sufficient in isolation – fails to convey the scope of all that is happening within the subject. The Stability slips too simply into montage and generalities; the part on social media, filled with filler about self-obsession and trolling, is weak.
Hussain says that there was no Islamic leisure trade till 20 years in the past – however this overlooks the Egyptian, Afghan, Iranian, Lebanese and Turkish cinema and music industries (although it’s debatable how “Islamic” they’re). Solely in a section on South African nasheed singer Zain Bhikha performing to 1000’s in Sierra Leone does The Stability step out of a western perspective and start to convey the total range of the viewers. The part on Muslim standup comedy – pioneered by the US’s Preacher Moss, and which turned a significant outlet for cultural self-assertion post-9/11 – is the sharpest. Presumably as a result of this type of comedy feeds most straight off the intersection of the sacred and the secular that’s the nub for each entertainer featured right here.
