CROWS ARE WHITE
Ahsen Nadeem is a man living a double life. After abandoning his strict religious training upon relocation to the U.S., he deceives his devout Muslim parents through fabrications and concealment but is riddled by guilt when he excludes them from significant life events. His life becomes increasingly difficult to segment, but he’s unsure how to rectify his mistakes. Ahsen seeks advice from the austere Tendai Buddhist monks practicing extreme self-denial, but prematurely loses his rare access when he accidentally offends the monks. Only Ryushin, a low-level monk tasked with menial duties, will speak with him. Ryushin openly flouts rigid monastery life, surrendering to a wicked sweet tooth and entertaining dreams of being a sheep farmer. The two become unlikely friends and bond over their shared circumstances. Both yearn for freedom from restrictive cultural expectations but neither knows how to obtain his desired life without alienating his family. Shot over five years and featuring gorgeous cinematography of a rarely-seen monastery, CROWS ARE WHITE is a powerful documentary capturing a man’s journey to reconcile faith, family, and age-old traditions in the face of our modern landscape.
In Competition: Documentary Feature
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