SHAHADA (FAITH)
Germany, 2010, 89 minutes, Colour.
Maryam Zaree, Jeremias Acheampong, Carlo Ljubek, Marija Skaricic, Sergej Moya, Vedart Erincon.
Directed by Burhan Qurbani.
A film that provides a challenge to many devout Muslims.
The setting is Berlin, especially amongst the Turkish- German community. It could be paralleled with a film set in a Catholic country that dramatises issues, especially moral issues, that are the subject of official statements and teaching but aspects of which are controverted, even by some devout believers.
The first issue to come up is abortion with a pill-induced illegal abortion for the daughter of the local Imam. Her pain is excruciating and compels her to do the famous bargain with God, to do anything for him as long as he heals her. This experience turns her into a zealot, blaming her father for being too tolerant and invoking apocalyptic language (and Revelation 12) and fierce punishment.
The second issue is infidelity. A policeman (Muslim) who had an affair with a pregnant woman whom he had accidentally shot in a raid for illegal immigrants promises his wife and son to be faithful, but...
The third issue is homosexuality. A sincere young African German who lives with his mother and works in a factory becomes aware of a deep attraction to a fellow-worker. They to to Quran school together and meet the Imam. The young man prays intensely against his urges and desires, becomes self-loathing, rejecting his friend. He goes to the Imam for advice. The Imam says that the Quran is a book for Islam as a religion of love.
The film, made by a student director, originally from Afghanistan and a practising Muslim, will ask audiences to test their beliefs and principles.
1.The film’s statement about religious faith, belief, ethics? How didactic was the film? The director not wanting to be didactic but to tell stories?
2.Turks in Germany, the range of films on these themes? Turkish customs, Muslim customs, the Koran, prayer, learning interpretation of the Koran, literal meanings, tolerance and intolerance? The danger of fundamentalism? The role of imams and community? Teaching?
3.The structure of the film: a religious journey, the chapter on devotion, sacrifice, self-sacrifice?
4.The characters and their interlinking? The story of the imam and his daughter, the factory and the police raid, the workers, their going to the club? The hospital?
5.Maryam and Renan, the opening, giggling and cheeky, going to the club, dancing? The Turks going to such nightclubs? The abortion pill, the effect on Maryam, her pain, the towel and Renan throwing it over the bridge, her getting weaker, concealing the truth from her father, the blood, the laundry? Her growing pain, fear, prayer and asking God to help, bargaining with God? Becoming religious, stricter, the quotations from the Koran? Her scandalising the women at the meeting? Her quoting the Book of Revelation, chapter 12? Comments on Satan, punishment, God, the authorities being disturbed by her reactions? Their pleading with her father? Her going to the hospital, Ismael’s wife and her kindness, Renan and her inability to further help? Her final collapse, her father carrying her? A fable about sin, Maryam considering her sin the utmost, repentance, atonement, becoming strict and judgmental?
6.The story of the imam, his wife and her cancer? Tolerant in Maryam’s growing up? Home, a teacher, welcoming Sammi and Daniel? Open, tolerant, the authorities worried about his daughter? His dealing with the Koran and the issues of homosexuality, love, Islam as a religion of love?
7.The police, the story of Ismael, relationship with his wife and son, his participation in the raid, rounding up the workers? The interview with Leyla, letting her go despite her papers expiring? The background of his affair with her, shooting her in a raid when she was pregnant, his suicide attempt and her seeing his wrists? His promise to his wife to be faithful? Yet meeting Leyla, continuing the affair? Leyla and her having to reject him? His going home again? The impact for his wife, loving, stopping loving? The son and his candid questions to his father? The hug?
8.Renan, working in the hospital, her friendship with Maryam, getting the pills, helping, an illegal abortion? Her tough attitudes? Her telling Sinan?
9.The workers in the factory, Daniel and his being rude to Sinan, Sammi defending him? Their friendship? Going to the club and dancing, choosing the clothes, the kiss? At the dance, Sammi and his awakening desire for Daniel? Daniel and his commitment? Their going to the mosque, at classes?
10.Sinan, at the factory, taunting Sammi and Daniel at the dance? Renan and the truth, his anger, confrontation with Maryam? His apologising to her? Seeing Sammi and Daniel?
11.Sammi and his mother, his work at the factory, the encounter with Daniel, supporting him, a pleasant young man, helpful, dancing at the club, the kiss, his intense praying, worrying, self-loathing? Going to the imam, asking advice for a friend, the information that God loves all love? Fighting with Daniel, warning him off? Daniel and his asking Sammi whether he liked their encounter? Their future?
12.Islam as a religion of love, the women and their interpretation – and God being too busy with men’s sins? The chatter of the women, the comments about Angelina Jolie, freer attitudes than some of the men?
13.The film’s comment on abortion and its effect on people, the mothers, the fathers?
14.A slice of German Turkish life, religion and its role, emotional stories, experience and teaching?
