Naz & Maalik (2016) | Film Review

The beauty of film at its core lies in the mind-numbingly endless possibilities any one story can go. Action, drama, comedy, suspense – each of these categories are defined solely by the individual absorbing them. Unfortunately, when the sheer volume of films releasing in any given year exceed all rational expectations, predictability is bound to set in. Action set-pieces all look basically the same, jokes are repeated ad nauseam, and we all know how every relationship-focused, issue-driven drama is ultimately going to end. In his auspicious feature debut, ‘Naz & Maalik’, director Jay Dockendorf does the unexpected – he ignores modern conventions and allows his film to breathe.

‘Naz & Maalik’ is the story of two Muslim black youths who also happen to be closeted gay men. As they go about their day, peddling lottery tickets and perfumes for profit, their peculiar behavior draws the attention of a local FBI agent (Annie Grier) in a post-9/11 New York City. The film unfolds casually, as the audience assumes the role of eavesdroppers, following Naz (Kerwin Johnson, Jr.) and Maalik (Curtiss Cook, Jr.) as they navigate through the randomness of their afternoon, culminating in the ramifications of their forbidden relationship.

Both young actors are tasked with roles that require more normalcy than flamboyance, and Johnson, Jr. and Cook, Jr. cement this complicated relationship with affection and ease, impressive for newcomers in a film with this much to say. Cook, Jr., in particular, has a natural charisma that lights up the screen, which should take the young actor to great heights in the near future.

What I meant above is that this film is not functioning as Mjolnir, brought forth to hammer judgment onto all who reject its devout message of tolerance. Nor is this a polarizing film of sudden or rash violence, meant to invoke fear or panic in our psyche by condemning our intolerant allowances. The very thing I admire most about the film is bound to be that which drive many away – Dockendorf has no interest in shaking the foundation, of shocking the audience’s system. ‘Naz & Maalik’ is not trying to persuade nor dissuade you from whatever beliefs or leanings on the topic you have.

Instead, ‘Naz & Maalik’ simply tells the story of two men, raised in a community where their love for each other is banned. Yet the conflict does not arise so much from the outside world, as it does from the inner turmoil it inflicts on our duo. The film spans the day after these two have engaged in coitus, and the pressure of what this means weighs on them throughout the day. It says so much about movies today when the lack of senseless violence is the most shocking component to a story.

If you are looking for a powerful message, filmmaking that apexes with a horrific collision of events – such as ‘American History X’ – you will have to look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you are open-minded enough to spend some quality time with two gay guys struggling with their own identities – concluding just as most of our days do, with little finality or resolution – then you will find something sweetly unique in ‘Naz & Maalik.

Naz & Maalik releases on VOD and DVD January 26th, 2016
Starring Curtiss Cook Jr., Kerwin Johnson Jr.
Written by Jay Dockendorf
Directed by Jay Dockendorf
Listen to our interview with director Jay Dockendorf
Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider