ABOUT THE FILM

LOGLINE

An intimate portrait of Muhsin Hendricks, the world’s first openly gay imam, who, despite death threats, established the radically-inclusive mosque in South Africa that gave rise to the global Queer Muslim movement.

LONG SYNOPSIS

THE RADICAL is an intimate portrait of the world’s first openly gay imam.

Muhsin Hendricks was a fashion designer in South Africa, who struggled to reconcile his sexuality with his faith. He studied in Pakistan to become an imam—a religious leader—so that he could understand Islam more deeply.

After deciding that he had to be truthful to himself and the world, he came out in 1995, and established the radically-inclusive mosque in Cape Town that gave rise to the global queer Muslim network. Today, Hendricks leads a devoted group of LGBTQ+ Muslims and allies, based in a working-class neighborhood of the city. He decides to take his work to where it is needed most: the East African communities living under anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

The film provides first-person accounts of growing up queer in a society caught between the liberalism of the South African Constitution and the conservativeness of its cultures and history. In the wider African context, it chronicles individual journeys to acceptance amidst the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights on the continent.

Director Richard Finn Gregory

Co-Writers Richard Finn Gregory, Khalid Shamis, S.A.G.E.

Producer Richard Finn Gregory

Executive Producer Daniel Karslake

Editors Khalid Shamis, S.A.G.E.

FESTIVALS
2022: WQ: Docs
2023: Big Sky Documentary

AWARDS
Documentary Audience Award (Vues d'en Face Grenoble)

AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
The World

EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP, Digital Download