Movie Review: Bilal's Stand

The Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor was one of eight theaters across the country to screen a film as part of the Sundance Film Festival’s new venture, Sundance USA. Ann Arbor was among cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, each screening a different film, dispatched from the annual festival held in Park City, Utah. But Ann Arbor took it even further, hosting a sold-out show—the largest screening of a Sundance premier in the festival’s history. Due to the high turnout, Ann Arbor was the only city given the privilege to host a second new Sundance film; Bilal’s Stand, as a part of its NEXT program, showcasing up and coming young filmmakers.

The film presents the story of Bilal, a conscientious black Muslim living in Detroit who struggles to overcome the pressures placed upon him by his family, who expects him to take over their long-owned taxi stand. Bilal is a high school senior who on a whim decides to submit an application to the University of Michigan behind his family’s back. His naysayer guidance counselor discourages him, suggesting he apply to a community college or vocational school, as U-M tuition seems out of the question. But then an unexpected opportunity presents itself; a teacher at his high school offers a substantial scholarship for a student who learns the art of ice carving. Though the premise might seem odd, the film is actually very closely based on the experiences of the film’s director, U-M grad Sultan Sharrief.

Bilal, like Sultan does go on to attend U-M, and though we do not see him at college in the film, there are plenty of shout-outs to U-M and Ann Arbor. Bilal attends Campus Day, where we see him walking through the Diag, and the gas station on the corner of Main and William streets stands in as a spot in Detroit where Bilal refuels his cab.

While Bilal excels in school, he is surrounded with issues familiar to many inner-city teens.  Bilal’s uncle is killed in a tragic car accident. When the car is inspected, the police find drugs belonging to Bilal’s cousin who is sent to jail. Soon after we hear that Bilal’s best friend is pregnant by the drug-dealing cousin.

Bilal is taunted for being observant and praying. When his secret life of after-school ice carving and university ambitions is revealed, his mother will not have it. She fears that without Bilal, the stand has no chance of survival. But he is strong-willed and decides that he needs to take a shot at social mobility, whether his family supports him or not. In the end, his mother comes through.

While there is good acting all around, and some unique effects like doodles that sometimes overlay the images of characters, the low-budget film still seems amateurish. The life Bilal leads before U-M remains a reality for many teens, but the film serves its purpose by giving us hope.

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