WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
How many times have we been advised that it is always admirable to stand firm in what you believe, to not waver, yet remain open-minded enough to pay courteous heed to what others think, even while consistent in presenting your own point of view? This, suffice it to say, is FAR easier to say than put into practice, especially when your particular stance on attempting to BE who you are in the midst of claiming steadfast, overall allegiance to a religious faith wholeheartedly clashes with innate, unmoving, well-established truths found within it. Would you still find the strength to hold to what you’re choosing to cling to, no matter what may come? Honestly, one would ultimately hope the answer would be a resounding YES! For, in doing so, does it not become the higher example of what love, creed, and desire to accept and treat others facing similar plights would turn to? This is the story of one such man, Muhsin Hendricks. He is Muslim. He is devout. And he became the first openly gay imam in the world. No pressure, right?
Next, my Mind:
Profound commitment to one’s own beliefs and lifestyle orientation resoundingly collides with the steadfast, highly unyielding, and wholly ingrained doctrine found within one of the world’s oldest religions, doing so with an equally candid and inspired heart behind it that deftly showcases the sheer power of the human will to triumph over trials through this immersive 90-minute indie documentary film project from writer/director/cinematographer Richard Finn Gregory, writer/editor Khalid Shamis, plus executive producers Daniel G. Karslake and Kelly Scott. There is never any denying when it comes to events and stories that center on real life and real people that it has such a more persuasively provocative impact on us as the viewer as opposed to things that are clearly fictional in nature and/or only meant primarily for entertainment. It is this focus ON what is discovered in our actuality that more often than not might also cause us to stop and consider to a larger degree how we see the world, other people, and our own personal beliefs along the way, and this film assuredly accomplishes this in spades.
What this critic has always maintained when it comes to any cinematic effort that happens to find its foundational footing through LGBTQ+ themes is that, in grander scope, it isn’t a personal preference of mine. However, as has ALSO been proven to me over the course of the years covering the indie film arena, I am consistently surprised when said focus can be presented in a manner that actually does a adept job at transcending this and convey a wealth of elements that are so necessary, ALL-embracing, and completely applicable to us as PEOPLE, which is precisely what Gregory & Co. have delivered here while NOT at all sacrificing the realities being addressed by its core essence via Hendricks himself and the arduous journey he has had to weather in order to BE the person he is while taking a stance that put him in the crosshairs of his own religion. The entire argument and truths to be discovered in scriptural form when it comes to the LGBTQ+ position and what faiths believe or don’t believe about it are legion amounts multiple orthodoxies, and how Hendricks has basically defied them all in his pursuits is undeniably exceptional.
Based in Cape Town, South Africa (already a past haven for societal upheaval to begin with), Hendricks guides us through his tale with both an inescapable joy but also beleaguered-yet-still-hopeful demeanor that certainly belies the greater shaky road he’s had to traverse in being an openly gay imam (again, the FIRST one!), entirely absorbed in his Muslim faith, yet also preaching a slightly revised style of it that has ended up being that stirring and uplifting place for his fellow members of the gay Muslim community to turn to while also placing severe ridicule upon himself from the other Muslim faithful that believe him, effectively, heretical. From a beautiful upbringing (with fond memories of his mother in particular), Hendricks emotes a vibrancy of spirit as he narrates his story, engaging us with how his approach manifested, sharing about those he’s reaching via the messages about freedom from judgement, how we must choose fear OR faith as the heart isn’t big enough for both to exist, the weight of blanket condemnation of a people, the dichotomy of seeing lifestyle as a crime/injustice vs. actual behavioral sin, the isolation that others in his similar situation have felt and their sense of (or literal) excommunications from their communities, being willing to DO what must be done, and the uncertainty of how things move forward.
Additionally, the questioning of having pleased God or angered Him, knowing how the travails being experienced can end up producing a stronger faith and perseverance, and pursuing (if needed) radical change in order to grow are all thematic facets we hear about and see examples of through not only Hendricks himself, but a wealth of followers and friends interviewed throughout the course of the film, including (first names only) Keenan, Ashraf, Shakoor, Batul (his daughter whose experienced her own discriminatory challenges within the Muslim faith for her dancing), Dr. Amina, Latheem, Victor, Omar, Don, Israt, Achmat, Ziyaad, Abdulmugheeth, Peyam, Amani, Rae, Afiq, and Ishmael. ALL of them testify to the unequivocal impact Hendricks and his willingness to stand firm for their community, religion, and simply genuine love for others has changed their lives for the better. Whether in Cape Town or in East Africa where Hendricks also has had a major influence on those persecuted communities, the fact he has remained unwavering and committed to his cause is admirable by ANY standard, regardless of what your own beliefs are founded in.
This IS the ascendant beauty of someone just wishing to SHOW the depth of inclusive love, support, and yes, resistance to established dogma in order to present a new awareness of what our current world is like, those who are within it, and demonstrating it’s possible to co-exist in a welcoming manner, in spite of differences in lifestyle or religious affiliation while maintaining the steadfastness to BE ardent in his own life for WHO and what he is and represents. Honestly, if we as the human race went about chasing things with even an IOTA of the sincere passion and staunch convictions we see Hendricks embody from start to affecting and intensely penetrating finale in this documentary, truly it would be a FAR better world that we would be sharing TOGETHER as opposed to being so overtly polarized by hate, anger, and self-serving attitudes which are so prevalent instead. We need to get back to unity as a race or continue to see decline, and how Hendricks is trying to illustrate this through his actions once more climbs beyond his orientation, even if you do or do not agree with it.
Now, this critic really does feel this is a documentary that needs to be SEEN to fully understand the path Hendricks has followed and to assimilate ALL the nuances and details as only he can describe, so take all this above as an outline for a much deeper personal story. So, in total, “The Radical” distinctly lives up to its title, unflinchingly putting on purposeful display the strident potency of faith over fear, the desire to serve others and see their lives transformed and improved, the willingness to look beyond the surface to the heartbeat and soul of a person, to walk through AND overcome obstacles, and to find the catalysts for the betterment of humanity that flies well over race, creed, color, and religion, aiming to see ALL people choose to live as it should be–together.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
