A Sinner in Mecca

Oct 4 2015 N/A 1h 19m
Documentary

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.

Plot

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.

Written by

Sajid Akbar, Alison Amron, Parvez Sharma

Directed by

Parvez Sharma

Cast

Hamad Almutaani, Maram Alzghoul, Shady Eldanf

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America, Germany, France

Production Companies

Haram Films, ZDF, ARTE France Cinéma

Languages

English

Awards

1 win & 1 nomination

Scores
# of Votes
366
Average Rating
4.8 out of 10
Metascore
68
Popularity
NA