Hala

Name: Hala
Genre: Drama
Released: November 22, 2019
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Anna Chlumsky, Azad Khan, Celia Skvaril, Charin Alvarez, Gabriel Luna

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Ratings

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4.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Ratings

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Hala

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Movie Details & Credits

Apple | Release Date: November 22, 2019 | R

Starring: Anna Chlumsky, Azad Khan, Celia Skvaril, Charin Alvarez, Gabriel Luna, Geraldine Viswanathan, Jack Kilmer, Jimmy Chung, Keith LeCreed Harris, Purbi Joshi, Sam Straley, Sonny Bhatt, Taylor Marie Blim

Summary: 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.

Director: Minhal Baig

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Playlist Jason Bailey

Feb 1, 2019

Hala is keenly observed and quietly powerful, and we’ll be hearing much more from the talented women on either side of its lens. Read full review

Yolanda Machado

Nov 22, 2019

Viswanathan’s resounding, yet quiet performance allows the audience to see Hala for who she is — a smart, funny, intelligent, angsty, confused, and completely normal teenage girl. Read full review

The Film Stage Dan Mecca

Feb 1, 2019

One sincerely hopes that this is the first of many collaborations between Viswanathan and Baig. Rarely do those behind the camera feel as sync with those in front of the camera as what is conveyed in Hala. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Feb 1, 2019

This is a persistently quiet film; always human and alive, but also told with the solemnity of someone who knows they’re sending a ripple through a body of water that’s been still for thousands of years. Read full review

David Fear

Nov 21, 2019

It’s a quietly radical take on the art of finding one’s voice, playing out both in front of and behind the lens. Read full review

Robert Abele

Nov 21, 2019

Although its storytelling is at times naggingly staid, its central characterizations teem with complexity and sensitivity, and for that, it’s a modest coming-of-age gem. Read full review

Beandrea July

Feb 1, 2019

Unfortunately, the touches that endear us to Hala during the first half of the film are almost nonexistent in its second half, adding up to a choppy, incoherent finish. Read full review

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User Reviews

pervertedpanda

Dec 26, 2019

Good and beautiful movie. Solid narrative and acting. It doesn’t add nothing new but it is very well made.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

JLuis_001

Dec 11, 2019

Even though the representation of this story focuses on a stereotype that also happens to be a reality for some the film works pretty good.

As I said, focusing on a single point of view limits its message but it doesn't stop being important because after all, when religion and traditions''Even though the representation of this story focuses on a stereotype that also happens to be a reality for some the film works pretty good.

As I said, focusing on a single point of view limits its message but it doesn't stop being important because after all, when religion and traditions'' forbid you from doing anything outside their norms is terrible.

But it's completely worth watching and I have to say special mention to Geraldine Viswanathan who achieves the best work of her short career.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Mauro_Lanari

Feb 3, 2022

(Mauro Lanari)
To the adolescent identity crisis the film adds marital, intergenerational, interethnic tensions and an Elettra complex, going overweight as its eponymous young protagonist.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wheeelertron

Jan 31, 2021

This film is so two-dimensional and superficially plotted that it collapses under any real scrutiny, it's attempt at examination of a complex cultural subject clearly offending and polarising some of it's audience, and while I commend the young lead actor for bringing depth to her role withThis film is so two-dimensional and superficially plotted that it collapses under any real scrutiny, it's attempt at examination of a complex cultural subject clearly offending and polarising some of it's audience, and while I commend the young lead actor for bringing depth to her role with an expressive performance and proficient use of a skateboard (and I hope and imagine it will be a good launch-vehicle for her), despite her character's somewhat unbelievable choices, I am left bewildered and annoyed that this production that would not look out-of-place at a second-year film student's festival screening has achieved flagship platform positioning on Apple TV+ they must have been desperate for diverse content, fair enough, but I do not recommend you watch this film as it will probably leave you confused, annoyed and possibly offended!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

sham07

Dec 6, 2019

There was nothing in the movie except humiliation of Muslim girls. A disgraceful stereotypical negative portrayal of Muslim girls.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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