The 99 Names of God embraces the rhythmic rituals that have run alongside Islamic tradition throughout the centuries in this surreal and poetic short film. Piecing together old and new, Arab-American filmmaker Yumna Al-Arashi aims to create dream-like imagery which breathes fresh air to a subject hardly seen in positive light. The importance of geometry, nature, spiritual connectivity, style, meditation, and feminine power in Islamic tradition is something modern media has failed to depict - Al-Arashi’s goal was to revive these themes in a truly beautiful manner. Islam’s underlying inherent meditative, universal and spiritual value has been washed over by negative media representation and male-dominated dogmatic imposition. It is time we see new imagery dedicated to truly understanding a religion filled with mysticism and beauty, practiced by over 1.8 billion people around the world.
comissioned by NOWNESS. world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival.