In the age of social media, it’s easy to become jealous or feel inadequate when you look at one’s IG, Twitter or Snapchat posts. It’s even easier to have the desire to overcome insecurities or escape from one’s everyday life with a single selfie or post.
Written and directed by Nijla Mu’min, JINN is inspired by her time working with teens in Los Angeles at the Fernando Pullum Center for the Performing Arts as a film instructor. Several scenes in JINN were filmed at that center and featured in the film.
JINN focuses on Summer (Zoe Renee) , a free-spirited 17-year-old. whose world gets flipped on its ear when her mother, Jade (Simone Missick)converts of Islam. This abrupt spiritual change causes conflict for the mother, daughter and those in their immediate orbit. Summer and her Mom are having an identity crisis of epic proportions and struggle with moving forward or keeping their lives as they are.
I could totally relate to this film as I went though a similar crisis when my family remained Catholic while I converted to Buddhism. Change is never easy, especially when it comes to religious beliefs and family. The complexities of this film are multi-faceted and a great project for anyone struggling with the dilemma of juggling two things you love.
JINN is being screened as part of the 2018 AFI Film Festival and will be released by Orion Pictures on VOD and Digital HD
