Jinn (2018 film)
Jinn is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Nijla Mu'min. Starring Zoe Renee and Simone Missick, it is a coming-of-age story about a Black Muslim teenage girl, Summer, who converts to Islam at her mother's behest. The film premiered at the 2018 South by Southwest Film Festival on March 11, 2018 and received Special Jury Recognition for Writing.[1][2]
Jinn | |
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Directed by | Nijla Mu'min |
Produced by | Maya Emelle Arielle Saturne Avril Z. Speaks |
Written by | Nijla Mu'min |
Starring | Zoe Renee Simone Missick Kelvin Harrison Jr. Dorian Missick Hisham Tawfiq Kelly Jenrette |
Music by | Jesi Nelson |
Cinematography | Bruce Francis Cole |
Edited by | Collin Kriner |
Production company | Sweet Potato Pie Productions Morgan's Mark Confluential Films |
Distributed by | Orion Classics (USA)(theatrical) |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
Los Angeles teenage girl Summer navigates family, friendship, and college admissions after her mother, Jade, converts to Islam and insists that she does the same.[3][4]
Cast
- Simone Missick as Jade
- Zoe Renee as Summer
- Hisham Tawfiq as Imam Khalid
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Tahir
- Dorian Missick as David
- Kelly Jenrette as Rasheedah
- Ashlei Foushee as Blaine
- Maya Morales as Tati
- Upasana Beharee as Maryam
- Damien D. Smith as Dawud
- Horace Dodd as Jordan
- John Zderko as Myles
Production
Jinn is Nijla Mu'min's debut feature film.[5] The film was inspired by Mu'min's experiences growing up in the Bay Area's Black Muslim community.[6] Mu'min was born into a Muslim family.[7] Her father converted to Islam in the 1960s and her mother converted when they married.[7] Actress Simone Missick also was an executive producer for the film.[6]
Release
Jinn premiered at 2018 Sundance Film Festival.[6]
Critical reception
Jinn received positive critical reception. It holds a 95% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes[8] and a 75/100 score on review aggregator Metacritic.[9] Reviewing for The A.V. Club, Katie Rife stated, "It presents Islam, a religion too often demonized in Western media, as a compassionate faith, and the women who practice it as independent and strong."[10] In a review for Variety, Amy Nicholson wrote, "Jinn” is the rare coming-of-age story that doesn’t simply pat kids on the head and tell them they just need to love themselves. Instead, Mu’min holds her characters accountable for the way they discombobulate each other’s lives, while giving them the space to do better, if they can figure out what better is."[11] The New York Times selected the film as a Critic's Pick.[12]
Accolades
- Special Jury Recognition for Writing, Sundance (2018)[7]
- Jury Award for Best Screenplay, American Black Film Festival (2018)[6]
References
- Jinn, retrieved November 3, 2019
- Castillo, Monica. "Jinn movie review & film summary (2018) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- "'Jinn': Film Review | SXSW 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- Jinn (2018), retrieved November 3, 2019
- "Nijla Mu'min: The director's debut film Jinn explores the black Muslim teen experience | Q". WNYC. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- "Growing Up Muslim In America: Nijla Mu'min's 'Jinn' Explores Black Muslim Identity". Essence. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- "Nijla Mu'min On Her Stellar Coming-Of-Age Film 'Jinn' (SXSW Interview)". shadowandact.com. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jinn_2018
- Jinn, retrieved May 4, 2020
- "Jinn tells a familiar coming-of-age story from a fresh point of view". Film. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- Nicholson, Amy; Nicholson, Amy (March 15, 2018). "SXSW Film Review: 'Jinn'". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- Harris, Aisha (September 5, 2019). "'Jinn' Review: A Not So Typical Coming-of-Age Story". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 4, 2020.