In 'Hala,' a thoughtful Pakistani-American Muslim girl nearing high school graduation grapples with sexuality, faith and tradition. By Beandrea July The debut feature Hala from writer-director ...

In 'Hala,' a Chicago-area Pakistani American teen balances her desire for freedom with her strict Muslim upbringing. Review: ‘Hala’ — a culturally specific tale with universal appeal - Los ...

The film opens with a Muslim prayer, and within seconds the camera is focused on Hala (Geraldine Viswanathan, “Blockers”) quietly masturbating in the bathtub, interrupted by her mother, Eram ...

Hala. Rated R for a little sex and a lot of emotional turmoil. Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes. Hala. NYT Critic’s Pick. Find Tickets. When you purchase a ticket for an independently reviewed ...

Hala’s mother, on the other hand, is strict and reserved. She only speaks in Urdu, and seldom appears to leave the house. It’s hard to imagine that either of them were ever any other way, or ...

Hala starts to appreciate that Eram's provincialism is more of an unwanted prison than a choice. That becomes apparent when the Masoods host a Pakistani couple and their son, Arash, for dinner ...

With him, Hala can joke around, hang out at the skatepark and run around a playground. She doesn't have to take on the persona of an obedient Muslim girl or follow outdated rules simply for the ...