Ramadan, A Fast of Faith
52 minues, color
Films for the Humanities and Sciences

Ramadan, A Fast of Faith was filmed in Java and Sumatra. It follows the month-long fast from preparation to end, through the eyes of a married couple.

Two things immediately struck me the first time I saw this film; the first was its lovely, sensitive filming and composition, and the second was the beautifully accented speech of the narration, all done in the first person by the young man of the couple. His light Indonesian accent adds a wonderful flavor to the film. But neither of those observations in any way means to downplay the information about the importance of the fast is Islam.

A further plus for Ramadan is the variety both in landscape and in people filmed. There are crowded city scenes-- as the couple does the shopping in preparation for Id al-Fitr, or as young Muslim men and women prepare meals in the restaurants where they work, while they, themselves, will not be able to take food until after sunset; and there are beautiful country scenes, as that of the teapickers in the field of rural Java. There is also good representation by both young (children learning to sing the Qur'an) and old.

The fast during the month of Ramadan is explored, and explained, in both its exoteric and esoteric aspects, with tremendous explanation of the latter; and the fact that this film takes place entirely in Indonesia will help students to realize, if they did not know it already, that the country with the greatest number of Muslims in the world is not in the Middle East. A great film, in its ability to break stereotypes for those who think that Islam is less than a world-wide religion, and in its exposition of the beauty behind the practice of fasting. It will deepen our students knowledge of, and appreciation for, Islam.

review ©2000 by David Streight and RSiSS

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