Portrait of a Suspect

Truthful and gripping performances elevate this independently produced television play. Fareed Al-Oboudi, as director and writer, knows how to escalate the action until the unreasonable seems logical. His "Suspect" is a flawed human being who encounters those who supposedly uphold the laws of their respective nations. His personal journey brings him face to face with authorities who assume that racial profiling in it's various guises is the sure bet to get at criminals, assuming that certain ethnicities have a greater tendency for violent behavior. In light of recent events and the desire to profile other human beings as undesirables, this parable is a warning of the abuse of fundamental human rights. Mr. Al-Oboudi symbolically uses the interrogation format to make his point again and again. His Suspect points out that life is indeed beautiful "if only people could see."