Muhammad and Jane

Screenings
Chicago Underground Film Festival (August 2003)
Toronto Arab Film Festival (December 2006)

Recipient of the Chicago Underground Film Fund Grant 2003

Watch Muhammad and Jane on vimeo
80 minutes, digital video, black & white, 2003

“Because this film is set just prior to the time when the United States invaded Iraq in early 2003, one could surmise that Jane represents the U.S. as she is hunted by her own intentions, with Muhammad becoming her unknowing counterpart. Their relationship foreshadows a different match destined to be made in real life, although not one nearly as happy as theirs, and raises an interesting point as far as speculating how the relationship between the U.S and Iraq will develop over the coming years.

Alshaibi has the unique ability to creatively tap into current events with a fresh and involved eye. Muhammad and Jane takes an experimental form, informed with a narrative storyline and envisioned with the hand-held and unforgiving, observational quality of a documentary. Its scenes consistently demand interplay between these elements and Muhammed’s state of mind, which implores for him to always look over his shoulder, and benefits from fantastic performances by Tokarski and Paez. ” – Erin Anadkat, MICRO-FILM Magazine #7

“A laconic drifter (Piotr Tokarski) born in Iraq returns to Chicago to straighten out his U.S. immigration status, and though a friend warns him of the prevailing anti-Muslim sentiment, he unwisely hooks up with a desultory woman (Melina Paez), accompanies her to a hedonistic party, and attracts the attention of the FBI. Local video maker Usama Alshaibi is the sort of canny visual stylist who can sustain a mood… the handheld videocam, tight close-ups, and disorienting angles create a potent sense of paranoia. The haunting score is by Andy Ortmann and Camilla Ha.” – Chicago Reader (August 28, 2003)