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Bilal: A New Breed of Hero

Name: Bilal: A New Breed of Hero
Director: Ayman Jamal, Khurram H. Alavi
Released: 2016
Duration: 109 min

Representation Score

3.3/10

Limited

2016

PG-13

Director

Ayman Jamal, Khurram H. Alavi

Runtime

109 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is a significant piece of narrative reconstruction that shifts focus from dominant historical clichés to the lived experiences of those historically sidelined. By centering a Black protagonist, the film moves beyond including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth to provide a leading role to a non-white lead. The film's strength lies in its critique of historical power dynamics. It effectively uses the socioeconomic hierarchies of pre-Islamic Mecca to explore themes of liberation and identity-based justice. However, the film remains limited by its period-specific focus. The narrative structure is heavily male-centric and lacks representation of diverse identities or characters with disabilities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Bilal: A New Breed of Hero have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on a 7th-century historical and spiritual journey without any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Bilal: A New Breed of Hero portray gender?

Limited

The narrative is primarily centered around male characters, emphasizing the protagonist's significant role in driving the story. Female characters exist but mostly fill traditional roles dictated by the period's social norms.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Bilal: A New Breed of Hero?

Excellent

The film excels by centering a Black protagonist and challenging Western-centric historical clichés. It explores the dignity of the enslaved and highlights racial and class-based oppression.

How does Bilal: A New Breed of Hero represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story presents a critique of established Meccan power structures. It frames early Islamic social structures as a vehicle for justice and the dismantling of traditional hierarchies.

Does Bilal: A New Breed of Hero include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities that serve as central narrative drivers.

Present on Screen

The film centers a Black protagonist, disrupting the dominance of Western-centric historical epics.
It provides a leading role to a non-white lead rather than relying on including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth.
The narrative offers a sophisticated critique of oppressive historical power structures and socioeconomic hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

The story is primarily male-centric, with female characters occupying traditional, constrained roles.
There is a lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth characters.
The film does not feature characters with visible or invisible disabilities as narrative drivers.

Official Synopsis

A thousand years ago, one boy with a dream of becoming a great warrior is abducted with his sister and taken to a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change. Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero who earned his remembrance in time and history.

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