In an area of Newark where too many funerals commemorate tragically short lives, Hanif, an older man with a troubled past, works as a casket maker and ritual body washer. He is committed to his work and to his Islamic faith and is also a dedicated mentor to two local kids-Furquan, a confident 12-year-old who comes from a rough home and Naz, a 17-year-old who has been fighting through his own struggles as a young Black man growing up in Newark. Challenges come when Furquan's home life becomes more turbulent and Naz gets caught up in a serious arrest. Han if, struggling with the fear that he has failed as a mentor, begins to fall into a downward spiral. Shot in exquisite black and white, Zeshawn Ali's auspicious feature debut is a lyrical meditation on the importance of community and passing down generational knowledge through faith, brotherhood and redemption.
- Year2020
- Runtime82 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereHot Docs 2020
- NoteContent Consideration: Discussion of violence & gun violence, incidents of strong language
- DirectorZeshawn Ali
- ProducerAman Ali
- CinematographerZeshawn Ali & Emir Fils-Aime
- EditorColin Nusbaum
- ComposerMichael Beharie
- Sound DesignJonathan Fuhrer
In an area of Newark where too many funerals commemorate tragically short lives, Hanif, an older man with a troubled past, works as a casket maker and ritual body washer. He is committed to his work and to his Islamic faith and is also a dedicated mentor to two local kids-Furquan, a confident 12-year-old who comes from a rough home and Naz, a 17-year-old who has been fighting through his own struggles as a young Black man growing up in Newark. Challenges come when Furquan's home life becomes more turbulent and Naz gets caught up in a serious arrest. Han if, struggling with the fear that he has failed as a mentor, begins to fall into a downward spiral. Shot in exquisite black and white, Zeshawn Ali's auspicious feature debut is a lyrical meditation on the importance of community and passing down generational knowledge through faith, brotherhood and redemption.
- Year2020
- Runtime82 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereHot Docs 2020
- NoteContent Consideration: Discussion of violence & gun violence, incidents of strong language
- DirectorZeshawn Ali
- ProducerAman Ali
- CinematographerZeshawn Ali & Emir Fils-Aime
- EditorColin Nusbaum
- ComposerMichael Beharie
- Sound DesignJonathan Fuhrer