Two Gods

The story of Hanif, a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer who takes two young men under his wing to teach them how to live better lives.

casket maker teaching child
Series
Independent Lens
Premiere Date
June 21, 2021
Length
60 minutes
Funding Initiative
Open Call
  • Award laurels-r Created with Sketch.
    2020 New Orleans Film Festival-Documentary Feature Jury Award
    • Director

    Zeshawn Ali

    Zeshawn Ali was born and raised in Ohio. He moved to New York to study film at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where he concentrated on directing and cinematography. He directed the short film Shallows and short documentaries for the 30 Mosques series which were featured in festivals and publications across the country. He's currently based in New York.

    Producer

    Aman Ali

    Aman Ali is an award-winning storyteller in New York City. He’s made appearances on dozens of media outlets including the NY Times, CNN, Buzzfeed, NBC News, and HBO to tell stories about the Muslim American community. He is also one of the brains behind the social media phenomenon 30 Mosques in 30 Days, a 25,000 mile roadtrip he took to all 50 States in the U.S.… Show more with the mission of telling profound stories about Muslims in America. Show less

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    The Film

    In the city of East Orange, New Jersey, a casket shop stands on the corner of N. 15th and William Streets. Inside, laboring amid the sawdust and the long pine boxes, casket makers work with mentors in the Islamic burial tradition. Countering tumultuous home lives and the dangerous undertow of the streets, they have found a way, through the rituals of death, of teaching their young charges to embrace life. Two Gods tells the story of Hanif, a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer who takes two young men under his wing to teach them how to live better lives.

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