New Movie Puts Dearborn in National Spotlight
Fordson: Faith, Fasting Football, the award-winning movie filmed in Dearborn that documents the Fordson High School football team during Ramadan, opens at select AMC Theatres Sept. 9.
We haven’t seen the film yet but early reviews and awards suggest it is well done. People we have spoken to who live in Dearborn and have seen the film say it shines a more positive light on our city and its residents. For many who live outside of our city and only view us through the negative lens of the network news, the film could serve as a good educational tool.
The film will launch via the AMC Independent™ program in select AMC markets (for a minimum of one week), including Dearborn, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Orange County, Calif., Los Angeles, New York, N.Y., Brunswick, N.J., San Jose, Calif., San Francisco, and in the Greater Washington D.C. region, including Gaithersburg, Md., and Alexandria, Va.
According to the movie’s producer, the film shows all-American life in a typical high school (Fordson) that happens to be mostly Arab-American, unearthing a community desperately holding onto its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in post 9-11 America.
The film recently received the Special Grand Jury Award at the Slamdance Film Festival, Special Jury Prize at the DEADCenter Film Festival, the Audience and Founders Award at the 2011 Politics on Film Festival, the Best Documentary Award at the Detroit-Windsor Film Festival and was named Champion of the World Cup Film Awards.
You can read what Varity magazine had to say about the film after it was shown at Sundance by clicking here http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944514/
“This film offers a dynamic and delicate story from a perspective that is not often told,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, vice president, specialty and alternative content for AMC. “We are proud to play a role in sharing the story.”
North Shore Films is launching a national grass roots marketing campaign to secure volunteers to promote the film in their local markets via educational institutions, religious organizations, youth sports teams and community centers. People interested in volunteering can sign up at www.fordsonthemovie.com
Additional information about Fordson is available at its website, via Facebook and Twitter (@FordsonTheMovie).
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Mr. Deep, the description above of Dearborn’s Muslims is they are “desperately holding on to its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in post 9/11 America.” Where is the struggle to gain acceptance by Dearborn’s Muslims? What I have observed is the worst kind of rejection of American values on their part. The Fordson principal who appears in this movie was a fanatic Muslim and ran Fordson that way. That is why he was forced out, finally, by the school board. A community who is ‘struggling for acceptance’ in America would not reject America, would not force their neighbors to live like they were Muslim (the neighbors who are forced to put up with Fordson’s football lights glaring into their houses until 4 a.m., this year are one example). Consider: since 9/11, many of the imams in this area have told their women followers they MUST wear the hijab. That was supposed to be a woman’s free choice, but not anymore, not in this town. A community that wished more acceptance by Americans would not wish to shove their Muslim ways in the faces of others when they KNOW it is a source of friction. These imams WANT more friction, they want more trouble. They are not seeking acceptance at all.
August 23rd, 2011 at 3:02 pm
An interesting thing, to compare the Dearborn High Muslim football players to the Fordson crew. Since this current coach took over at Fordson, I have had the opportunity to speak to several of their players about the extra burden that Ramadan puts on them. Every one of the Fordson players told me that they DON’T fast on the days of games. They decided as a group that winning the game meant breaking their fast. The Dearborn High kids, on the other hand, DO fast on the days of games. At least many of them, as I have taken food into the locker room after the game and fed kids who hadn’t eaten all day. Fordson gets the attention because it is overwhelmingly Muslim, but it is partly facade. I do not object to their breaking their fast for the games…in fact, I think it is sensible. Allowing the public image to go unchanged, though, is hypocritical.
August 24th, 2011 at 12:50 am
“desperately holding on to its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in post 9/11 America.”
Puh-lease…I saw more “frickin'” non-American flags than the Stars and Stripes in some parts of town after 911. I guess if you say something long enough people will start to believe it. “Struggling to gain acceptance”, my arse.
August 24th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
To Dearborn Disbeliever: Careful about who-beat-who. In the regular season, Dearborn took Fordson apart. In the playoffs, remember, Dearborn met the restructured Fordson team and lost a close and very hard-fought game. Gotta give the Fordson coach his ‘props’…he somehow, in the middle of the season, inspired his team to improve quite a bit. That is not simple or easy.
August 27th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I’m already working on the sequel, “Fordson: Faith, Fasting Football Blown Away by Catholic Central: Catechism, Coaching,
Catching Football”
August 27th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Catholic Central 42 Fordson 0. Ouch!
August 29th, 2011 at 2:00 am
All I will say about the media attention given to Fordson is that they did NOT ask for it. In fact the producer had to approach them on several different occasions before they even agreed. And you obvioiusly do not know the Fordson coach very well. He is NOT a showboater all. He is a dedicated and hardworking individual who wants the best from his players and team. That comment really makes me doubt you know the facts about anything you have written.
August 30th, 2011 at 12:23 am
To ‘Keeping it Real’: Typical. You attack the person who made the comment, rather than the idea that was expressed. Yeah, we saw the comment in the paper that the coach made. Something to the effect of ‘When will the press stop making this a big deal?’ The coach made this a big deal when he decided to have football practice in the middle of the night. This extreme attention is HIS FAULT. Go ahead. Try to pretend that this wasn’t his intention all along. Nobody is buying it.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:38 am
“the Imams have told their women followers they must wear the hijab”…..how do you know this? Are you at the mosque? I am a muslim woman and live in Dearborn. I have NEVER been told this. And IF I ever wear the hijab in Dearborn or anywhere else for that matter if would be MY choice. I do not understand why you would make stuff like this up??? Maybe it is YOU that is trying to cause the trouble. I AM seeking acceptance. But it is lies like yours that make others think differently. All I am asking for is that you speak the truth. And if I did wear the hijab…my intention is not to be shoving my Muslim ways in your face. In fact, it has nothing to do with you at all.
September 7th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Ma’am, I spoke to a woman who graduated in the early 70’s from Fordson. She only started wearing the hijab after she was 50 years old. It was she who told me directly that her imam insisted she MUST wear the hijab. That same statement has been included in stories in the Detroit Free Press and News. As you can see, despite your statements, I am telling the truth. The Muslim women of Dearborn are being used as a political weapon, to stir up anti-Muslim feelings.