Ablution

This is a powerful and provocative short from newcomer Omar Al Dakheel. It centers on a young Middle Eastern man (Waleed) coming to terms with his sexuality in a deeply religious household. Like with Dee Rees' superb coming of age film Pariah, I became engrossed in the lead's struggle with honoring himself vs honoring his parent. It's unfortunate that many others are faced with this very same dilemma, even today.

The trio's performances, writing, and direction are all top notch and the minimal locations prove that you don't need an extravagant production to tell a moving story. The only downside was that I wanted it to keep going, but then again that's what a strong short does. Leave you wanting more.

I'm usually cautious of dramatic shorts because I tend to be weary of journeymen directors who have an inclination to lecture viewers or wax poetic on social issues-- instead of telling a story. However, "Ablution" was a gripping narrative that held me till the last frame. I found my eyes wet from a powerful performance by the Father (Jay Abdo), which reminded me about the late Sihung Lung in "Pushing Hands" (1992). Both master actors delivered a father's sorrow with such precision that anyone, regardless of race, religion, or culture, would understand. I hope this director will surprise us film lovers the same way the once-small-time director of "Pushing Hands" did as well.

An excellent study in human behavior, "Ablution" takes a controversial issue within particular cultural and religious norms and expands it into a universal experience for the audience. The phenomenal direction, sound design and acting only serve to enhance the truth within this narrative. Omar Al Dakheel is a fearless director, intent on steering what has thus far been a black-and-white subject into the gray zone. He is an expert at exploring the complexity in taboo issues and forcing the audience to ask themselves, "what would I do?"

ABLUTION tackles a difficult subject with no judgment on any of the characters. You become emotionally sucked into this short film that says a lot with very few words -- it's a great example of "showing" not "telling". The filmmakers and actors do a great job in this heartfelt, sincere piece.

I found Ablution to be an incredibly powerful short that vividly captures the lived experiences and complicated reality many individuals with intersecting identities face everyday. This is the narrative people often keep hidden for no one else to see. The Director beautifully gave voice to the voiceless while also raising the bar of empathy for individuals with conflicting identities.