Two Gods

Play trailer

Two Gods

Released May 21, 2021

1h 22m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

TWO GODS is a feature documentary film about a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer in Newark, NJ who takes two young men under his wing to teach them how to live better lives. Hanif is a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer in Newark, New Jersey He mentors two kids--Furquan, a confident 12- year-old who comes from a rough home and Naz, a 17-year -old who has been fighting through his own struggles as a young black man growing up in Newark. Hardship comes when Furquan's home life becomes more turbulent and Naz gets caught up in a serious arrest. Hanif fears he has failed as a mentor and begins to fall into a downward spiral. During each of their darkest moments, they take what they've learned from their pasts and from each other to pull through. And through faith, brotherhood and redemption they find their purpose.

Zaki Hasan

San Francisco Chronicle

It maps out a world where flawed people do the best they can; not always succeeding, but finding value and worth in the effort itself.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 2, 2021

Full Review

Robert Daniels

RogerEbert.com

An intimate, lyrical exhumation of the cycles that haunt Black youth and the challenge of putting to rest old habits.

Rated: 3/4

May 25, 2021

Full Review

Guy Lodge

Variety

[A] restrained, humane film...

May 23, 2021

Full Review

Jason Gorber

POV Magazine

We are blessed with both the craft and the documentation of sublime empathy that Ali brings to the film

Rated: A

Jun 18, 2020

Full Review

Christopher Llewellyn Reed

Hammer to Nail

Ali expertly gathers footage to profile the travails and personal growth of his protagonists. It's a moving, profound odyssey.

Jun 16, 2020

Full Review

Stephen Saito

Moveable Fest

[A] captivating feature debut...

Jun 10, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Fatima M

I stumbled upon this on PBS. I could not stop watching. It is so restrained yet full of heart, magnetic, deep, raw, real, difficult, and well, life. It is simply shot in black and white focusing on the solemn fragile reality of growing up in this New Jersey neighborhood. A smart, concise, and riveting 82 minutes that will leave an imprint on your heart and soul.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/22/21

Full Review

Audience Member

This documentary is just masterful storytelling at it's finest. This is the type of film that will resonate with your soul. It will make you think, while also increasing compassion with those struggling to stay on or find the right path.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Zeshawn Ali

Director

Aman Ali

Producer

Zeshawn Ali

Cinematographer

Colin Nusbaum

Film Editing

Michael Beharie

Original Music

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

76 Days

100%

85%

76 Days

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 76 Days

Simple as Water

100%

75%

Simple as Water

Watchlist

When Claude Got Shot

100%

%

When Claude Got Shot

Watchlist

After Sherman

100%

%

After Sherman

Watchlist

A Peloton of One

100%

%

A Peloton of One

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Peloton of One

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

TWO GODS is a feature documentary film about a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer in Newark, NJ who takes two young men under his wing to teach them how to live better lives. Hanif is a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer in Newark, New Jersey He mentors two kids--Furquan, a confident 12- year-old who comes from a rough home and Naz, a 17-year -old who has been fighting through his own struggles as a young black man growing up in Newark. Hardship comes when Furquan's home life becomes more turbulent and Naz gets caught up in a serious arrest. Hanif fears he has failed as a mentor and begins to fall into a downward spiral. During each of their darkest moments, they take what they've learned from their pasts and from each other to pull through. And through faith, brotherhood and redemption they find their purpose.

Director: Zeshawn Ali
Producer: Aman Ali
Production Co: Two Gods, ITVS (Independent Television S, Black Public Media, ITVS, Ford Foundation - Just Films, Tribeca Film Institute
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2021
Runtime: 1h 22m