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Taqwacores (The)

Country: USA, Language: English, 83 mins

  • Director: Eyad Zahra
  • Writer: Michael Muhammad Knight

CGiii Comment

Muslim punks - well, that's an oxymoron.

A 'movement' that seems to have missed the bus...but resiliently chases it as it trundles on its merry way.

The preaching dialogue is a mountain of monotony - the punk depiction equates with a dismal fashion sense and puerile profanity.

The direction is a tad above the level of distinct amateur.

There is no subtlety and, if this film achieves anything at all, which it doesn't - it alienates...with this kind of irresponsibility - Mohammed will not be moving that mountain.

And...the music is as gruesome as is the acting.


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

Yusef, a first-generation Pakistani engineering student, moves off-campus with a group of Muslim punks in Buffalo, New York. His new "un-orthodox" house mates soon introduce him to Taqwacore- a hardcore, Muslim punk rock scene that only exists out west. As the seasons change, Taqwacore influences the house more and more. The living room becomes a mosque during the day, while it continues to host punk parties at night. Ultimately, Yusef is influenced by Taqwacore too, as he begins to challenge his own faith and ideologies. The Taqwacores deals with the complexities of being young and Muslim in modern-day America.

Cast & Characters

Noureen DeWulf as Rabeya;
Jim Dickson as Gas Station Bully;
Volkan Eryaman as Amazing Ayyub;
Denise George as Dee Dee Ali;
Anne Marie Leighton as Lynn;
Nav Mann as Umar;
Rasika Mathur as Fatima;
John Charles Meyer as Hamza;
Bobby Naderi as Yusef;
Dominic Rains as Jehangir Tabari;
Nicholas Riley as Harun;
Ara Thorose as Lead Singer of The Gilmans;
Ian Tran as Fasiq;
Tony Yalda as Muzzamil