Abu, Son of Adam

Entering his autumn years, Abu (Salim Kumar) is determined to finally realize his dream of making the sacred Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. However, financing such a journey requires the modest perfume merchant to part with his most valued possessions. Furthermore, he must familiarize himself with contemporary society’s formalities (passports) and unwritten rules (strategic bribes). But most importantly, his faith dictates that he must get his moral house in order before departing.

As Abu makes amends with his neighbours, writer-director Salim Ahamed examines daily life in India’s rural communities and extols the charity that flourishes there. These visits allow Abu to discover new reserves of determination and a deeper appreciation for the diktats of Islam. In turn, this reinvigoration offers Kumar—some 30 years younger than his character—the opportunity to showcase his considerable physical gifts as an actor. Ultimately, this isn’t a film about an old man reaching Mecca. Rather, it’s about the journey he must complete before he’s fit to “walk on the pious land.”

"[Ahamed] balances measured investigation of the Islamic faith with broader concerns of mortality and community… [and] tells his story with clarity and compassion… Chief pleasures of this humble production lie in the confident lensing of veteran Indian d.p. Madhu Ambat, who is given unchecked permission to wallow in the Malabar countryside’s iridescent sunrises and acid-green blankets of foliage…"—Guy Lodge, Variety