Who's Next? 2019
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Nancy Cooperstein Charney
Directed by Nancy Cooperstein Charney
Streaming, 88 mins
Middle School - General Adult
Communication, Islamic Studies, Sociology
Date Entered: 05/27/2020
Reviewed by Kimberly Poppiti, St. Joseph's College, Patchogue, NYWho’s Next? is a feature-length documentary film focusing on how life for Muslim-Americans has changed since 9/11, and again since the 2016 presidential election. The filmmakers communicate this information mainly by juxtaposing xenophobic video footage, television news reports, newspaper headlines, and excerpts from political rallies featuring hateful (but not unfamiliar) anti-Muslim sentiment, with calm and reasoned conversations with Muslim-American citizens about their experiences in the United States. The disparity between the former and the latter types of footage jarringly and effectively illuminates the problem examined in the film.
The meaning behind the titular question of Who’s Next? is reinforced with the inclusion of an excerpt from First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller. Here, and also in various scenes throughout the film, viewers are reminded that Muslim-Americans are not the first or only group of individuals to be lumped together and discriminated against in the United States, and they are unlikely to be the last. This is a valid and disturbing observation about the pervasive concept of a threatening “other” within the supposed “melting pot” culture of the United States.
Viewers are introduced to a number of individuals, all Muslim-Americans currently living (or with family members living) in the New York Metropolitan area. By interviewing these individuals and their families, the filmmakers illustrate for viewers the painful everyday impact that prejudice and xenophobia have on the subjects, who are of different ages, genders, backgrounds, and nationalities. These individuals provide first-hand recollections of their experiences with stereotyping, prejudice, and even hate crimes; some provide detailed accounts of how their experience as Muslim-Americans changed for the worse after 9/11. The people profiled are interesting, diverse, and well-spoken; their recollections and conversations are upsetting, but also enlightening. We see how children and adults are impacted by small and large acts of discrimination and hate, some of which are institutionalized and others that occur on an individual or small-scale basis. The powerfully negative impact this discrimination has on individual members of the Muslim-American community and their families is made clear. The filmmakers also include some footage from pro-equality and pro-Muslim rallies and actions. These are useful in confirming that there are limits to anti-Muslim sentiment within the U.S.
Who’s Next? is worthwhile viewing. Viewers may be familiar with some of the headlines and footage included, but the featured individuals and their stories will be new to virtually all viewers, and the combination of elements included is powerful. This documentary will provide middle-school through general adult audiences with the opportunity to “meet” and learn about the Muslim-American individuals and families featured. It will also serve to contextualize these individuals in terms of the hateful rhetoric and outright lies about Muslim-Americans that are also featured. This film is a worthwhile addition to school and community library collections. It will be of interest to general audiences, and most valuable to those in the fields of Intercultural Communication, Sociology, and Islamic Studies.