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To Live and Die and Live

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To Live and Die and Live

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1h 45m

Drama

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91%

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11 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE follows a film director who returns to Detroit to bury his stepfather and settle his accounts, but his struggles with addiction and loss may finish him before he finishes the task. As old and new relationships unfold, he's forced to confront the emotional and psychological toll of his past and the dark side of his city's vibrant, gritty landscape.

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Nick Allen

RogerEbert.com

To Live and Die and Live displays how Basir, this film’s writer/director/cinematographer, cares more about color than he does a comprehensive edit or overall story even when he is the subject.

Feb 3, 2023

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Christian Zilko

IndieWire

While the existing canon of good Detroit movies leaves a lot to be desired, To Live and Die and Live is an excellent step in the right direction.

Rated: B+

Jan 27, 2023

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Todd McCarthy

Deadline Hollywood Daily

Stylistically, To Live and Die and Live is cut down to the bone, with the essential action being conveyed but with a vital terseness that both frustrates and keeps you on your toes.

Jan 23, 2023

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

“To Live and Die and Live” may be a great work of art but is still a difficult movie to watch. It is a film about people’s inability to handle and withstand the quotidian and life altering tragedies and how they fail to cope without hurting themselves

May 30, 2025

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

Exploring familiar themes of guilt and grief this evocative character study provides an incisive probe of addiction, religious traditions, contemporary masculinity, and urban decay.

May 16, 2025

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John Fink

The Film Stage

The mood created by Basir, who also photographed To Live and Die and Live, is far more interesting than any over-the-top, formulaic family drama the film boxes itself into.

Rated: C+

Jan 27, 2023

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Audience Member

Simply an amazing and beautiful love letter to the city of Detroit.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

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Nicole T

The storytelling was simply AMAZING! It truly hit home how men cannot express themselves until they finally find that ONE person to be vulnerable with and peel those layers of themselves. It shows different aspects of addiction, religion, family, LOVE, desperation, purpose, and HOPE. The emotion behind each scene--and the cinematography was right on point.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

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Hadiatu D

This movie was so on point. The struggle with addiction, family responsibilities and love hit home. Great cinematography. Superb acting!! A must see for sure!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Qasim Basir

Director

Amin Joseph

Muhammad Abdullah

Skye P. Marshall

Asia

Omari Hardwick

Kevin

Cory Hardrict

Akil

Maryam Basir

Iman

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Synopsis

TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE follows a film director who returns to Detroit to bury his stepfather and settle his accounts, but his struggles with addiction and loss may finish him before he finishes the task. As old and new relationships unfold, he's forced to confront the emotional and psychological toll of his past and the dark side of his city's vibrant, gritty landscape.

Director: Qasim Basir
Producer: Qasim Basir, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Amin Joseph, Samantha Basir, Dana Offenbach, Cory Hardrict, Omari Hardwick
Screenwriter: Qasim Basir
Distributor: AuthentiQ Films / CinemaStreet Pictures
Production Co: Significant Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 30, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 45m