The Taqwacores

Director Eyad Zahra wrote this semi-comic film with Michael Muhammad Knight, author of the titular cult novel. Clean-cut Pakistani-American college student Yusef (Bobby Naderi) kick-starts the narrative when he moves into a Buffalo townhouse with five other Muslims. The place turns out to be a den of iniquity, which Yusef does his best to ignore, since he wishes to remain halal (which includes staying free of stimulants). Straight-edged housemate Umar (Nav Mann) chides the nonjudgmental Yusef for drinking tea, but everyone else follows a more unfettered lifestyle—cigarettes, beer, and profanity abound, while the garb includes studded leather jackets and scarlet-hued mohawks. Johnny Cash–worshipping rocker Jehangir (Dominic Rains) introduces Yusef to the Muslim punk scene, including real-life outfit Secret Trial Five, who play during the movie's climactic house party. Other residents include shirtless skateboarder Ayyub (Volkan Eryaman), burqa-covered riot grrrl Rabeya (Noureen DeWulf), and Jehangir's pot-smoking band mate Fasiq (Ian Tran). As Yusef is settling in, he also meets Lynn (Anne Leighton), a freckle-faced neighbor who turns him on and off with her assertiveness. The Taqwacores boasts a distinctive look—Zahra combines desaturated color, black-and-white, and occasional freeze-frames—but the pacing falters near the end, after a slow build-up meets an abrupt conclusion that calls for a more tolerant, open-minded Islam. Although strict Muslims may take offense, fans of Suburbia and Trainspotting will surely find this of interest. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)