SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO COME OUT TO THE SAME PERSON, OVER AND OVER…

This is a documentary on Eman Abdelhadi, a queer Muslim woman born in Palestine and living in New York, who was raised as a free spirit by her mother. 

Eman likes to drive on empty highways, she needs space for processing her thoughts. She wants to come out to the person she cares most: her mother,  and also wants to come out to the previous versions of herself.  On the other hand, her mother, a good religious traditional woman that pushes for the best for her daughter, says homosexuality, Islamically, it’s not right, and acting on it´s not right either.

We are introduced to Eman as an academic, empowered, and positive woman for the queer Muslim community she belongs to.  She gives talks and workshops, and reaffirms herself as a leading woman,  meantime, she also realizes and reflects on how relationships are devalued if others do not know aspects of who we are. She reunites with and enjoys the company of her friends and struggles, looking for a more fluid, transparent communication with her  Muslim mother, and her acceptance.  There is no doubt about their love for each other.  As we all know, family relationships have their complexities.

The documentary shows Eman attracted to Q, a cisgender man,  they married and broke up 8 months later.  Eman feels she has held her life to many lies and acts consequently.  Everyone has to be responsible for their own decisions, as Islam states.  Eman and her mother never agree on answering things.

The film is a reiterative one on the topic of coming out and acceptance. It remarks is important to let go of memories and have new ones. Almost at the end, there is a beautiful and sincere conversation between mother and daughter,  and life goes on…

As said in the statement of the film:  COMING AROUND has a unique opportunity to broaden the discussion around pansexuality and bisexuality, which often gets lost in the larger discussion of queerness and sexuality.”

Directed by Sandra Itäinen.  The film is screening at Frameline Film Festival 

 

 

Review by José Mayorga , Guatemala, Central America lawyer and notary public, visual artist, and editor of El Azar Cultural, lives and works in Guatemala City. Cinema lover, curious about the possibilities life brings and eager to live the experience.