On February 10, 2015, UNC students Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were eating dinner in their home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina when they were killed by their neighbor Craig Hicks in 36 seconds. Before their families can grieve, they are forced to become activists to set the record straight — that these killings were a hate crime.
36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime charts the families' agonizing overnight pivot from trauma to advocacy as they struggle to prevent their loved ones' deaths from being dismissed as the result of a random parking dispute as Hicks originally claimed, and local law enforcement and national media quickly parroted. They courageously speak the truth about the hate crime that destroyed their lives, the overtly insidious ways racism plays out in our society, and about the need to reform a hate crime system that is broken.
The film also delves into the history of hate crime law in the US, and explores how it remains unevenly replied and significantly under-reported. Also explored is the lived experience of Muslim Americans following 9/11, and the resurgence of Islamophobia that came with the 2016 Trump campaign, and subsequent administration.
Featuring exclusive, unfettered access to the principal figures of this tragic event, 36 Seconds offers a poignant reflection on the challenges faced by the Muslim community in contemporary America, and emphasizes the pressing need for social change in addressing hate crimes and discrimination. It is a project about perseverance and the will to fight for the truth in even the worst of circumstances.
"Reflects on what it means to be Muslim in the American South, where the country's gun laws and Islamophobia intersect. Through the devastation and heartbreak of the film emerges a portrait of a resilient community in pursuit of the truth and, ultimately, justice." — Bedatri Choudhury, Programmer, DOC NYC
"Highly Recommended. Delves into the complexities of the U.S. legal system, making it a valuable resource for those studying law and the challenges faced by families seeking justice for hate-motivated crimes... Provides an insightful, personal look at the impact of religious and racial prejudice, particularly against Muslims" — Video Librarian
"36 Seconds is an exploration of who gets to CONTROL a story... 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime is a powerful rejection of that [parking dispute] narrative and shows how hard it can be and how long it can take to reclaim the truth. Recommended." — Educational Media Reviews Online
"A wrenching new documentary... 36 Seconds is particularly illuminating when contextualized in the language of the present moment." — Indy Week
"A wrenching, intimate look into the human misery left by a hate crime... Tarek Albaba is a masterful storyteller who unfolds the hate crime in such a personal way that the viewer feels they too are a member of the victims' families." — Jennifer Roberts, former Chapel Hill mayor
"Especially relevant in light of fighting in Gaza, the 2024 election and a resurgence in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate in the United States." — News & Observer
"If broader audiences can see movies like this one, they spark change." — Sunshine State Cineplex
"One of the best and most important films of the year. It's a dismantling of a hate crime and an exploration of why it happened (and will again). An absolute must see." — Steve Kopian, Unseen Films
"Congratulations to director Tarek Albaba for spending EIGHT years working to tell this story sensitively, smartly, compellingly, and as compassionately as possible. He's absolutely succeeded." — Marie Therese Guirgus, Documentary Film Producer
"The greatness of a country or culture can be measured unarguably by how its citizens treat one another. 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime is necessary viewing if we're to be better in this respect." — Country 103.7 FM
