Seventeen-year-old Summer (Zoe Renee, “The Quad”) is having a hard time connecting with her mother, Jade (Simone Missick, “Luke Cage”), in the trailer for “Jinn.” Jade has discovered Islam, converted, and given herself wholeheartedly over to its “truth.” Summer doesn’t really understand or care about her mother’s newfound faith — she’s more interested in dance and hanging out with the cute guy she meets at one of her mandatory visits to the mosque.
The irony of it all is that, while their passions themselves are different, the way Summer and Jade commit themselves to what they love is very similar. When Summer declares her affection for dance (“Movement is one of my only connections to my lineage, to my DNA.”), her tone is very similar to her mother’s defense of Islam (“I have finally found something that makes me happy.”).
Yet one of the spot’s overarching questions seems to be whether Summer and Jade can preserve their bond even as their respective passions pull them apart. The more devout Jade becomes, the more Summer questions and even outright rebels from Islam. “I’m becoming someone I don’t know,” Summer admits after an intimate selfie gets passed around the congregation.
“Jinn” is inspired by writer-director Nijla Mu’min’s upbringing in a predominantly African-American Muslim community in Oakland. “As I got older, I was introduced to pop culture, different forms of sexuality, Lil’ Kim rap tapes, daisy dukes, pressed hair, belly-out t-shirts,” she told us. “I became quite conflicted about how to define my identity as a black girl with a Muslim father and a spiritual, non-religious mother. I was a part of so many different cultural worlds and wanted to make them all fit. This film asks, can I be confused, and flawed, and full of desire, and still be a Muslim? Can I be all these things and still be loved?”
The film is Mu’min’s feature directorial debut. She’s also directed several shorts as well as an episode of “Queen Sugar.”
“Jinn” made its world premiere earlier this year at SXSW, where it won the Special Jury Award for writing. The film hits theaters November 15, and will be available on VOD and digital November 16.
https://youtu.be/QuUddn4ubHc
