Ghosts of Sugar Land

At 21 minutes, this movie provides some insights into the way many young American Muslim men feel about the unfair animosity and suspicion cast their way by fellow Americans. Ghosts of Sugar Land also does a good job at showcasing the legitimate frustration of law-abiding, loyal American citizens tired of being judged for the misdeeds of other members of their faith. All the interviewees wear silly masks to cover their identities on camera, underscoring how much young Muslim men fear being associated with a friend now espousing jihad.

But the masks also send a mixed message about the seriousness of the film and the ability of director Bassam Tariq (co-director of These Birds Walk) to create and maintain an even and convincing dramatic tone. One guy wears a Spiderman mask and a pair of Batman pants as he speaks to the camera, which makes this piece feel a bit jokey and makes us wonder if the whole thing might, in fact, be a parody. At other times, this looks like nothing more than several TV news interviews randomly strung together. Any high school communications teacher would be impressed if this were turned in to fulfill a current events assignment, but as a mainstream movie it lacks the kind of structure, forethought, or cohesiveness that could make it great. The film did win a Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury award, reflecting that at very least it's a good start in providing an antidote to media memes that present Arabs as automatic villains and terrorists.