Facing Mecca (2017)

When Fareed, a Syrian refugee, receives the heart-wrenching news about his wife's terminal cancer, his world collapses. In this deeply poignant tale, he finds an unlikely ally in Roli, a compassionate pensioner, who steps in to support Fareed during his darkest hours. Roli stands by Fareed's side as his wife takes her last breath, marking the beginning of a journey that neither of them had anticipated. In the wake of his wife's death, Fareed is determined to say his final goodbye as per the customs of his faith, which requires his wife to be buried facing Mecca within 24 hours. However, the duo soon find themselves lost in the bewildering maze of Swiss bureaucracy. The local cemetery's graves do not face Mecca, and the council, under the leadership of Thomas Künzli, seems incapable of facilitating the burial within the stipulated time frame, promising to organise things for the following week instead. Unfazed by the council's procrastination, Roli, with his heart full of empathy and a mind brimming with creativity, proposes a solution that seems beautifully simple yet slightly unconventional: a family plot that would allow for the body to be buried diagonally, facing Mecca. But this plan, too, faces a hurdle as even family graves are exhumed after 25 years and allocated anew, a disturbing violation of peace for Muslims. "Facing Mecca" masterfully weaves together a heartrending tale of friendship, culture, and resilience, drawing the audience into an intimate exploration of two individuals navigating an intricate labyrinth of traditional customs and modern bureaucracy. This delicate narrative juxtaposes the universal human experiences of grief and kindness against a backdrop of religious diversity and societal norms, making it a truly compelling watch.

Facing Mecca is a drama movie featuring Jay Abdo and directed by Jan-Eric Mack.

Facing Mecca is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Netflix and Netflix basic with Ads.

It is also possible to buy Facing Mecca on Amazon Video.