West Coast Premiere
of “It’s My Country Too”
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Salman at the post-screen reception |
The West Coast premiere of
“It’s My Country Too” featuring Pakistani
“Junooni” rock superstar Salman Ahmad was held
at the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Saturday,
November 12, 2005. An attempt at documenting the Muslim-American
experience of post-9/11, this movie showing, a part of the
three day 3rdi South Asian Film Festival held in San Francisco
was one of two films from a somewhat Pakistani perspective
shown at this event (the other being “Khamosh Pani”
or Silent Waters).
And in a rare appearance, especially since he was not playing
a concert, Salman Ahmad himself made it to this premiere
and held a post-screening question and answers session and
attended a reception where he tried to share this movie-making
experience with us. Amrita Gandhi, the Festival Assistant
Director, was instrumental in getting Salman here. For that
and all her efforts in rallying the local Pakistani-American
community and for converting this showing into a Fundraiser
for Earthquake Relief, she deserves a big hand.
That after 9/11, America is a changed country would be an
understatement. Stand up comic Azhar Usman opens the film,
which also highlights the work of the rest of the “Allah
Made Me Funny” Comedy Tour, Preacher Moss and Azeem.
But besides their penchant for humor, there is little else
that is funny about this movie although some comments by
members of the very rich “Muslim’s For Bush”
backing Gull Hasan family might be taken as humorous.
Ali Hasan chats with guests |
In spite of its highs and
lows, this movie does deserve critical acclaim. The topic
that Director Cliford Bestall and Salman try to tackle here
is an extremely difficult one. And it is this level of difficulty,
trying to explain to the world what Muslim-Americans or
Pakistanis in America have gone through since that dreadful
day when America was attacked by people working for shadowy
terrorist group called Al Qaeda, in 60 minutes that is overly
ambitious. Overnight, Muslims in America were converted
from proud citizens of the USA to suspects who want to do
it possible harm. The government machinery here went understandably
overboard.
People disappeared or were “picked up”, some
families headed for Canada and the rest either became very
quiet or had to step up their struggle to fight for their
rights. This film certainly generates much contemplation.
It projects many facts, some of which will not be liked
(you cannot make everybody agree). It is certainly not an
attempt to appease. It covers some of Salman’s own
attempts to come to grips with this horrific tragedy which
has impacted and is still heavily impacting Pakistanis and
Muslims since America became suspicious of its Muslim population.
Salman takes a ride on a cab driven by a Pakistani to Ground
Zero where people of many faiths (including Muslims) perished.
He tries to answer a question in this film that he believes
many Americans are asking Muslims in America today who do
not fit their perceptions of people who practice their faith.
“Who are you (really) underneath that moderate person?”
Amrita Gandhi |
In the backdrop of the 2004
Presidential Elections in the US two Pakistani-American-Muslim
women representing very different viewpoints are focused
on in this movie. One is Mrs. Talat Hamdani who first lost
her son in the WTC (one who lost his life trying to save
others but was originally looked upon with suspicion till
his body was finally found) and then her husband who died
grieving for his son. Mrs. Hamdani has made the rights of
Muslim Americans her personal cause and supports the Democratic
candidate John Kerry. On the other hand are Mrs. Seeme Gull
Hassan and her family who actively support President Bush
(not a popular community position at the time) and still
do. Her son Ali Hasan was at this movie opening in San Francisco
and remains the major force in the “Muslims for America”
movement. Both women are portrayed honestly and in a non-judgmental
way in “Its My Country Too.” Many in our community
will not agree with Ali Hasan and his mother Seeme’s
views, but one has to give them credit for sticking to their
guns.
Other people that figure prominently in this film include
an Egyptian origin attorney in Detroit who is suing for
justice for victims of America’s excesses. Some graphic
photos of the torture of prisoners at Iraq’s infamous
Abu Ghraib prison in this movie will earn it an “R”
rating and thus it cannot be recommended for young viewers.
The point of any review is not to divulge the entire contents
of a movie. Many Muslim citizens of America already agree
very much with the title “Its My Country Too.”
And all one can write is that the movie needs to be seen
by many more people from both the Muslim and non-Muslim
community in America. It has not been made to entertain.
Salman with Ras and Farah Siddiqui |
The fact that it does project
the diversity of views that are present within Muslims in
the United States who are trying to reclaim their place
within the American Dream with a great deal of difficulty
since 9/11.
Let us close here with two observations. Salman Ahmad is
no ordinary Pakistani who has made America his home. He
has picked up on many unusual endeavors in his life that
many in Pakistan would not have pursued. First he gave up
medicine for Rock Music. Then, along with the rest of the
members of his band Junoon, Salman was promoting India-Pakistan
peace long before it came into fashion. Next, he promoted
AIDS awareness in Pakistan a subject that was taboo and
became the UN Ambassador for this effort. And now as a Muslim
New Yorker (the second time around) he has been a part of
this film and wants to engage both Muslims and people of
other faiths in America in a frank and open discussion in
“Its My Country Too.” And since the film opened
with Azhar Usman and his comedy, let us close this report
with him. “Go home, where you belong,” someone
shouted at Azhar. “I’m from Minnesota man. I
AM HOME,” he replied.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
