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Hala

  • 2019
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Hala (2019)
Seventeen-year-old Pakistani American teenager Hala (Geraldine Viswanathan) struggles to balance desire with her familial, cultural and religious obligations. As she comes into her own, she grapples with a secret that threatens to unravel her family.
Play trailer2:00
2 Videos
44 Photos
Drama

Muslim teenager Hala copes with the unraveling of her family as she comes into her own.Muslim teenager Hala copes with the unraveling of her family as she comes into her own.Muslim teenager Hala copes with the unraveling of her family as she comes into her own.

  • Director
    • Minhal Baig
  • Writer
    • Minhal Baig
  • Stars
    • Geraldine Viswanathan
    • Jack Kilmer
    • Gabriel Luna
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    3.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Minhal Baig
    • Writer
      • Minhal Baig
    • Stars
      • Geraldine Viswanathan
      • Jack Kilmer
      • Gabriel Luna
    • 65User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Official Trailer
    Hala
    Trailer 2:10
    Hala
    Hala
    Trailer 2:10
    Hala

    Photos44

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    + 38
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    Top cast20

    Edit
    Geraldine Viswanathan
    Geraldine Viswanathan
    • Hala Masood
    Jack Kilmer
    Jack Kilmer
    • Jesse…
    Gabriel Luna
    Gabriel Luna
    • Mr. Lawrence
    Purbi Joshi
    Purbi Joshi
    • Eram…
    Azad Khan
    Azad Khan
    • Zahid Masood
    Taylor Marie Blim
    • Melanie
    • (as Taylor Blim)
    Anna Chlumsky
    Anna Chlumsky
    • Shannon Taylor
    Charin Alvarez
    Charin Alvarez
    • Principal
    Sam Straley
    Sam Straley
    • Evan
    Sonny Bhatt
    Sonny Bhatt
    • Arash
    Ahmed Lucan
    Ahmed Lucan
    • Mahmoud
    Alka Nayyar
    • Hina
    Raven Whitley
    Raven Whitley
    • Lucy
    Bianca Corral
    • Sasha
    Zayna Dib
    Zayna Dib
    • Joy
    Jimmy Chung
    Jimmy Chung
    • Photographer
    Birgundi Baker
    Birgundi Baker
    • Hannah
    Keith LeCreed Harris
    • Coach
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Minhal Baig
    • Writer
      • Minhal Baig
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews65

    6.33.2K
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    Featured reviews

    8y-e-b

    If you think this is islamophobic, then you've got problems

    Newsflash: NO, this does not concern just "1 percent" of muslims but more like 80-90%. It's about time these sorts of issues get talked about.

    I'm not even Pakistani but I'm from a muslim family and I can tell you this is exactly the sort of struggle children of muslim parents go through not just in Pakistan but in the middle east and everywhere else in muslim communities living in countries where liberal ideas haven't gained hold (and even in those communities living in countries where they did, as this movie shows). For *most* children of muslim parents, it often comes down to choosing between religion or themselves - it shouldn't surprise you that they end up choosing themselves (you can't love anybody - including God - if you hate yourself).

    I really liked the movie because I think it sheds a light on a reality many people simply don't want to see nor recognize.

    The only misshap with the movie is that story about the teacher - that simply has no place / no logic and no reason to be in the story. If it weren't for that I'd give 10 stars,
    8Boratvoicemywife

    Thoughtful, Realisitic, and Touching

    This is one of the most accurate portrayals of high school life I've ever seen in a film. On top of that, the characters are seriously compelling and the story is quite moving. I'd say it successfully accomplishes everything is set out to do.
    8mberg74

    Beautiful movie

    Beautiful movie about being a teenager and what belongs to that part of life. but at the same time be Muslim and live up to its expectations.
    nikhilthemacho

    Superb acting by all actors and the music is great

    All the actors are good, especially the lead actor and her mom. Music is brilliant.
    5stormyweather_keeps_raining

    Typical Western stereotypical theme

    The acting was well done but I was disappointed once again at yet another movie that tries to make Islam look oppressive and the Western way liberated. Can anyone make a decent film that doesn't portray this stereotype? Still waiting........

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All entries contain spoilers
    • Goofs
      It is discussed in the beginning of the movie that Hala no longer uses school bus services. But then, there's one scene of Hala on a school bus fantasizing about Jesse sitting in front, but this could be a flashback.
    • Quotes

      Hala Masood: Do you know what you wanna say?

      Jesse: [Starts to say something but stops. Then says something else] You are so intense. You don't just ask someone that right away. I mean that's like... that's like give me your credit card number,

      [Hala cracks]

      Jesse: you know. Social security and all your passwords.

      Hala Masood: Don't say that.

      Jesse: And your soul too while you're at it.

    • Connections
      Referenced in WatchMojo: Top 10 Streaming Releases in December 2019 (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Mujse Pehli Si Mohabbat
      Written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz (as Faiz Ahmed), Buland Iqbal, and Noor Jehan

      Performed by Noor Jehan

      Courtesy of EMI Pakistan

      By arrangement with The Royalty Network, Inc.

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Hala?Powered by Alexa
    • What did Hala write on the note she gave teacher?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 6, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Urdu
    • Also known as
      • Хала
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Overbrook Entertainment
      • 3 Arts Entertainment
      • Fifth Season
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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