Uzair, directed by film student Hena Ashraf, offers a glimpse into the life of Muslim teenager living in London. Uzair is a drug addicted youth who is disconnected from his family and from religion.
Uzair
The film opens with Uzair’s attempt to buy drugs. After an unfortunate encounter with a dealer, he finds he does not have enough money to do so. The viewer sees Uzair contemplating stealing money but he is intercepted by a well meaning friend, who encourages Uzair to go to mosque and attend prayers and lectures. This is usually the point in which a film like this, by a Muslim filmmaker, conveys a moral and the main character sees the light, so to speak. However, Ashraf takes the film in another direction. This film is worth watching for that very reason.
There were a few intriguing aspects to this film. First of all, Uzair’s mom is not comfortable with the idea of Uzair attending the mosque because she fears he will fall in with radical Muslim youth, people she hears about on the news. Second, Ashraf is brave enough to show a Muslim guy addicted to drugs. She even shows him shoot up in one particular scene. However, the actor who plays Uzair does well enough but after watching The Wire, my standard for portrayals of drug addicts has been set too high 
As Muslims, we sometimes may believe that our people are all perfect and would not do anything that may befall other societies. Uzair, while fictional, depicts a scenario that we may be uncomfortable with but must confront anyways because only then can we come up with solutions for problems youth, whether it be in London or anywhere else, face.
You can check out a trailer of the film here.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
my name is uzair ahmed and i really impresse with this story