Welcome to Independent Lens.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
One of the definitions of the word mentor
is 'one who gives guidance and teaches'
ideally so their apprentice can live a better life.
In tonight's film,
a New Jersey-based mortician teaches two troubled teen boys
about life using the rituals of death.
Their story is displayed beautifully in tonight's film,
Two Gods.
Hanif is a Muslim undertaker who takes two boys
from the streets of Newark under his wing,
both of whom come from fatherless homes.
Having served prison time himself,
he shows the boys that crime isn't the only way.
How does he do this?
Hanif teaches the boys
to prepare bodies for funerals, build coffins, and wash corpses
in accordance with Muslim doctrine
thus helping them value life, which isn't easy
given what the boys are exposed to on a daily basis.
Two Gods is directed by Zeshawn Ali,
a Brooklyn based director originally from Ohio.
This is his feature-length directorial debut
and was shot with a familiar face in the producer's chair,
his brother Aman.
Having Aman, a seasoned documentary producer, on board
provided a positive creative atmosphere for the director
and helped secure financing for the project.
Ali set out to juxtapose the grieving process
with the vibrancy of coming of age
by shooting in black and white,
which not only enhanced a visual style,
but tonally helped Ali
achieve an extra layer of intimacy for his story.
In his director's statement, Zeshawn Ali says,
Muslim American stories can be
messy, complicated, and beautiful all at the same time.
Sounds like a fun challenge for a filmmaker.
Two Gods starts now on PBS Wisconsin,
your home for independent film.