Die Before You Die

It's a good movie.

Watching it felt like a cross between Ryan Reynolds' Buried (2010) and a lead similar to the one in DeadStream (2022), but with a Sufi twist.

The film gives a good visual portrayal of the Sufi practice of dhikr al-mawt-the remembrance of death-which are described in the works of al-Ghazali.

Some Sufi orders still engage in this exercise, not always in practice but in spirit (no pun intended): visualising themselves lying in the grave as a way coming to terms with their mortality and end their attachments with the world.

I feel some conservative folk may take issue with the practice of lying in a grave, saying: "Why retreat into a grave? Retreat to the mountains like the Prophets before us did." To them, and I ain't no Sufi, I say: take this film for what it is-a window into the intention of some Sufi orders.

This movie was an immersive spiritual journey, exploring the idea that materialism holds little meaning beyond this life. It beautifully conveys that there's far more to existence than what lies on the surface. I appreciated how Sufi teachings were woven into the storyline, giving a rare glimpse of this wisdom in a Western film.

The experience was like a rollercoaster-completely unpredictable and filled with suspense. The talented cast brought a realism to the story that made its mystical elements feel tangible.

I'd love to see more films inspired by Sufi teachings; this was a uniquely profound and captivating experience.