HALA Trailer
A teen girl comes of age in Hala, the latest from writer/director Minhal Baig.
The titular Hala is just starting to branch out; she’s picked up skateboarding, something her parents grudgingly allow, but her opportunities for rebellion are pretty limited. Being a Muslim girl means she can’t indulge in everything her classmates are up to, no matter how curious she might be. The push-pull of her desires seems to be the crux of Hala, promising a quiet character study in lieu of of a more rowdy take on teendom.
Baig is expanding on her own short here, which always leaves open the possibility of a plot that’s been stretched too thin. Since this is a character piece, though, she might be able to avoid that pitfall by digging even deeper into this conflicted teen. She got quite a lead in Geraldine Viswanathan, who drew much attention last year for her riotous turn in Blockers. This is the polar opposite kind of film, and it should provide a great barometer for just how far Viswanathan’s star might rise.
Hala premiered to strong reviews during its festival run and was picked up by streaming newcomer Apple TV+. They are giving it a brief theatrical run, though, so you’ve got several ways to track down this intriguing film.
Hala is directed by Minhal Baig and stars Geraldine Viswanathan, Jack Kilmer, and Gabriel Luna. It will be released in the US in limited theaters on November 22nd, 2019 and on Apple TV+ on December 6th, 2019. Further release dates are not currently known.
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