Interview with 'Mooz-lum' director Qasim Bashir

Audiences around the country are demanding to see this amazing new film. MPAC Hollywood Bureau liason, Deanna Nasir speaks with him.

I sat down with writer/director Qasim “Q” Basir to discuss the theatrical release of his new movie “Mooz-lum,” starring Danny Glover, Evan Ross and Nia Long. This film is the first of its kind to tackle the complex issue of Muslim American youth's struggle with their identity.

Q: What inspired this project?
A: I was born and raised Muslim in America. I was taught many things about my religion, none of what’s being portrayed in the popular media. The constant negative and extreme portrayals of Islam, something that I have seen as so beautiful, became disturbing for me so I began this project in 2007 as a response to the negativity.

This story is partially autobiographical. A lot of my life is in it, but not in the way that you might think. It's a metaphor for an individual who has a negative view of Islam and Muslims based on an isolated experience. The further he digs into Islam and himself, the more he comes to a different understanding and begins to change his perspective and opinions.

You delve heavily into the theme of identity in this film, why is that topic so important to you?
The climate in the past five to six months has been tough on young Muslims. People like you and I, who were raised a certain way as Muslims in this country, maybe we’ve gotten past the hump, maybe we’ve reconciled our identity issues, but someone who’s 15 to 16 right now is still struggling with their identity. The media and people they encounter are telling them their religion is bad or extreme that’s a hardship for someone.

When [Muslim youth] turn on the television and hear someone else's interpretation of their religion and way of life and hear it associated with violence and hate, that's tough. Particularly since the vast majority of Muslim youth are taught their religion is something totally beautiful and full of love; these messages can be confusing. That’s why this story is necessary to tell. It took months for “Tariq” to come to an understanding in the film, but for others, it could take years.

What other messages where important for you to get across with your story?
I think for me one of the most important lines in the film is when Taqwa tells Tariq “Do not let a few people shape your view of an entire faith, because what I’ve seen, and so many others, is beautiful.” It’s the idea of examining further and coming to your own conclusions.

You mentioned that you’re drawing from your personal life, as well as characters that you have observed in society. With that in mind, who does Danny Glover's character represent to you?
I was living in Detroit, and I was trying to do a whole other film at the time. I set up a meeting with a prominent African American who had a long history in politics to discuss possibly funding my project. During the course of our meeting, he kept bringing up that his son, who was about my age, had become a Mooz-lum and how he’d changed his birth name. He went on this angry rant about Muslims and Islam. I kept thinking “how could a man who was a government official and so educated be this ignorant.” Needless to say our relationship ended there, but it was an eye-opening experience for me.

How did you assemble this amazing star-studded cast?
For most of them, it was about the script. For African Americans in the entertainment industry, the roles are limited. It’s always been difficult to get good roles. When a script like this comes, one that offers a different kind of role, they want to get on board.

What are your goals with this film?
I want as many people as possible to see this film, and that’s it. There will be all types of different discussions, and hopefully, all types of different peoples seeing it. It will only serve half of its purpose if only Muslims see it. I want to combat and challenge the popular perception of Islam and Muslims. I just want to urge people to support this film because we don’t have normal channels for distribution. We’re doing it all ourselves, and the only way it works is if people support.

-- Deana Nassar (deana@mpac.org) MPAC Hollywood Bureau Liaison