Camping for Allah

It looks like the classic American summer camp experience: kids arrive at a woodsy California retreat where they engage in swimming, hiking, volleyball, and of course, skits around the campfire. They also pray throughout the day (beginning at 4:45 a.m.), and take part in a mock burial ritual. This is a Muslim youth camp, and despite the fact that all the girls wear the traditional “hijab” (with head and limbs covered) and remain somewhat separated from the boys (who aren't so happy about this aspect of their faith), these kids are all normal American teenagers having a blast with peers who share their religious beliefs. Filmmaker Ahmad Zahra's Camping for Allah successfully gets this point across here though the editing is rather choppy and the content a n bit unfocused as the film jumps back and forth between camp activities and interviews (or roundtables) in which campers talk about prejudice they've encountered since 9/11, why they wear the hijab, and how as Americans they separate their faith and culture from that of their parents'. While the lack of a main narrative thread (as well as background context on various scenes) is a drawback (although the film does feature an additional 75 minutes in bonus footage), this affordable program does provide some insight into American Islamic youth, and should therefore be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (E. Gieschen)