JINN American Independents

Being a teenager can already be dramatic. Now add religious conversion, first love and having to change your favorite pizza topping. Summer is a typical teen who finds herself in a unique situation. When her mother joins a local mosque, Summer is forced to explore whether she too wants to convert to Islam. Further complicating the transition, Summer meets Tahir, a Muslim classmate, who quickly becomes the object of her affection, and as she moves closer to Tahir she learns more about mosque life. Nijla Mu’min’s first feature, which starts as a classic coming-of-age story, grows into an exploration of spirituality in modern America, seen through the eyes of a girl trying to find her place. – Eric Moore