Cultures clash and passion blooms in this lively and insightful romantic comedy. Mo (Haaz Sleiman, THOSE PEOPLE) is a gay Muslim living in West Hollywood — he’s a dedicated doctor who prioritizes his faith. When his long-term relationship takes an unexpected turn, leaving him suddenly single, he discovers that finding someone who enjoys quiet evenings of cooking and conversation is challenging in a sea of guys who are focused on partying and hook-ups. But when Mo meets Kal (Michael Cassidy, THE DARE PROJECT), sparks fly, and the cute couple moves carefully into a romance that is sweet and complicated at once.

True-to-life dialogue and richly complex and relatable characters breathe naturalistic energy into writer-director Mike Mosallam’s gorgeously shot feature debut, which he expanded from his 2015 short of the same name. Funny and thoughtful, Breaking Fast — which also stars Veronica Cartwright (ALIEN) and Patrick Sabongui ( Homeland) — tackles deep issues of faith, friendship and sexuality with upbeat energy and a big heart. — Brendan Peterson