About Sikh movie Dream in Doubt. 9/11 Hate crime movie

Dream in Doubt movie by Tami Yeager (Director/Producer) and Preetmohan Singh.

One of America’s first post-9/11 hate crime murders punctuates a growing wave of violence in retaliation for the terror attacks.

When his brother is murdered, Rana Singh Sodhi finds himself coping with national tragedy and murder, finding support in community and attempting to reclaim the American dream.

A DREAM IN DOUBT follows Rana Singh Sodhi, Balbir’s brother, as he attempts to fight the hate threatening his family and community. The Sodhis had fled ethnic violence in India to pursue their version of the American dream. But less than a year after Balbir’s murder, Sukhpal Sodhi, Rana’s next-eldest brother, is killed in mysterious circumstances while driving a cab in San Francisco. Nine months later, Rana’s friend Avtar Chiera is shot by three men who yell, “Go back to where you came from!” Three weeks after Avtar’s shooting, another friend, Inderjit Singh, is physically assaulted and threatened with death while working at a convenience store. These incidents receive little to no coverage in the U.S. media, and a national dialogue concerning post-9/11 hate crimes and ethnic profiling is sorely missing.
Wanting justice for his brothers’ murders, Rana is motivated towards social action. He demands that America live up to its ideals of freedom, equality and justice for all. Or is it justice for some? To guard his own school-aged children from bullying and harassment, Rana and his wife visit their children’s school to answer questions about Sikhs. Rana educates Phoenix-area residents and meets with local Sikh Americans to discuss the increase in hate crimes. But with each new case of violence that targets his community, he is forced to question just how much he should suffer.
While the attackers in these crimes view themselves as proud defenders of America, Rana insists that their actions contradict the core values of his adopted homeland. In A DREAM IN DOUBT, he challenges his fellow citizens to think deeply about individual responsibility in the face of bigotry and what it means to be a true patriot.




All information taken from Independent Lens website.

Sikh movie “Ocean of Pearls” in Hollywood by Sarab Neelam

Sikh movie “Ocean of Pearls” in Hollywood by Sarab Neelam

If you want to see new sikh movie, you are welcome to Miami International Film Festival in March 2008. This year a sikh movie “Ocean of Pearls” directed by Sarab Neelam will be shown March 2nd,5th and 7 th.

The plot of the movie:
AMRIT SINGH has always felt an outsider despite being born in North America. The turban on his head is a constant reminder to him that he's different. After enduring a childhood plagued by racism, Amrit moves to Detroit for a prestigious job as a transplant surgeon and a fresh start. All Amrit's ever wanted was acceptance and he'll do anything to get it. He immerses himself in work and before long, he's searching for happiness in all the wrong ways. Making money starts to take precedence over caring for his patients. Any time not working is spent with SUSAN CLARK, a beautiful hospital administrator.

But, Amrit's world crashes in on him when he feels responsible for the death of his favorite patient. He's forced to look himself in the mirror and is horrified at what he's become. Having hit rock bottom, Amrit agrees to volunteer at a Sikh camp for children at the advice of his father. There, Amrit finally opens himself up to his Sikh heritage. The teachings he's ignored his whole life now ring true to him.

Amrit returns to the hospital and immediately finds his new outlook tested. His patient desperately needs a liver transplant but the superiors don't want him to perform the costly procedure. Showing the resolve he never knew he had, Amrit sacrifices his promising career to perform the surgery; his first step on the path to true happiness and inner peace.

Sarab Neelam - Producer's Notes
“As a practicing Sikh living in the United States, I have undertaken this effort to reach out broadly to various communities after the events of 9/11. This tragedy has led to hate crimes - especially against Sikhs. It is extremely important to note, however, that this film and its characters are fictitious, though loosely based on my own experiences and observations. This film is not intended to be a definitive depiction of Sikhs or Sikhism. It is one characters journey to find inner peace.”

Director's Notes
I feel truly lucky to have been part of "Ocean of Pearls" as there has never been a lead character from Hollywood as a Sikh. I also recently learned that there is not a single Sikh director in the world that wears a turban. I feel blessed and thankful to have had this opportunity.

All info from http://www.oceanofpearlsfilm.com/