Another AALBC.com Brownstone Series Event
Screening of the film Abraham's Children will be held in Harlem, New York on Saturday August 28th 2010, 7:30 PM - Click Here to RSVP
ABRAHAM’S
CHILDREN
Director & Producer: Nina Froriep
Director’s Cut: 77 min.
Editor: Terry Katz
Director of Photography: Claudia Raschke-Robinson
Executive Producer: Felix Mathis
Associate Producer: Teresa Pereira
Development Producer: Stefanie Zeyn
Development Coordinator: David Mandel
Production Sound Mixer: Marc Hoppe
Graphic Design & Effects: Elias Ressegatti
Featuring music by Salman Ahmad and Junoon
Synopsis:
Naeemah 17, and Saeedah 16, are sisters from the Bronx. Both girls are home
schooled. Their father, Tariq, a Sheik, preaches Juma every Friday in
Mosques around the Tri-State area and in Philadelphia. Tariq works as
security guard at night and converted to Islam in SingSing Prison in upstate
New York. He talks about his past and why he keeps the girls ‘close’.
Naeemah has been engaged to Mohammed since she was 14 and eagerly anticipates their marriage in the summer of 2010. Both girls are home schooled. Their younger brother Siraj goes to private school.
Director’s Notes:
I believe in the power of storytelling to change minds and pre-conceived
notions and to grow an understanding of the world around us. The topic of
Islam and Muslims in America is fraught with emotions, fueled by the post
9/11 media frenzy and the negative stereotyping of Muslims, both in the news
and in entertainment in general. In contrast, Abraham’s Children gives a non
judgmental, apolitical presentation of real stories of Muslim children in
America.
When I set out in the fall of 2007 to learn about the lives of Muslim
children in America, I knew almost nothing about Islam, whether in America,
in the world over, or my own backyard in Central Harlem. I also had little
idea of what it meant to grow up in America. I was born and raised in
Switzerland and didn’t come to this country until I was in college. What I
did understand was the feeling of displacement, which I felt very much
myself, even as a Western-European-Christian with a reasonable command of
English transplanted to New York. How much more intense must it be for an
adolescent coming to America, like Kasem, with an Eastern-Yemeni-Islamic
upbringing.
I also knew that Muslims got the short end of the stick in the media, especially after 9/11. I was curious to find out why Muslims were not speaking up. Where were the leaders and the Muslims that fought the injustice and ignorance about their religion, culture and way of life? any of these questions are still unanswered. I had to learn that one documentary can harbor only so many angles and stories, but in the end Abraham’s Children became a study on Islam in America from a youth’s point of view.
I feel very passionate and protective of the kids in Abraham’s Children and
I think it comes through in the film. All the families were incredibly
courageous to let us into their lives. We are extremely appreciative of the
way they spoke to use, gave us access to their homes, schools, and
workplaces and also graciously hosted us during the shoot days. This film
represents a true collaborative effort from production, to crew and talent.
I discovered that this generation of Muslim-Americans growing up in a post 9/11 era are the future leaders and spokespersons of Islam in America. I very much look forward to seeing what they will be up to in years to come.
Related Links
Official Website
http://www.abrahamschildrendoc.com/
Twitter
http://twitter.com/ninafroriep
FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abrahams- Children/90609674023
Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1533971/
