The 2008 surprise hit A Jihad For
Love lands on DVD Thursday.
The controversial documentary explores
the lives of gay and lesbian Muslims from around the world. The
documentary, which interviews gay and lesbian Muslims from twelve
countries, and was barred in South Africa, is the work of Indian
director Parvez Sharma.
In its limited release last year, the
film appeared to draw a mainstream audience and surprised insiders
with its high per-theater ticket average for a documentary.
The film first screened at the 2008
Berlin Film Festival. During its premiere, Sharma's festival blog
gave compelling reasons for the making of the film, as gay and
lesbian Muslim voices from around the globe reached out to him to
tell their stories. A seventeen-year-old boy wrote: “In November
2007 my parents found out about my homosexuality and my third world
war started. I was kept isolated during a month, very much confined
to my home with no means of communication with the outside world
whatsoever. I was given the ultimatum to either cure my self right
away or be murdered and eliminated by my 30 year old brother/stoned
to death by my father ... Please Parvez, I must see your documentary
for I can no longer live and love with the knowledge that I am
displeasing Allah.”
First-time director Sharma does not shy
away from the taboo: A Jihad For Love tackles the difficult
subject of gay Muslims living in countries dominated by religious
anti-gay rhetoric.
Gay Entertainment Report is a feature
of On Top Magazine and can be reached at
ontopmag@ontopmag.com.