Accept the Call

Zacharia Abdurahman is a Somali Muslim raised in Minneapolis. When the young man attempts to join ISIS, the FBI intervenes and puts him in federal prison for ten years. Accept the Call is the harrowing and morally complex story of how the Abdurahman family continues with their lives. Father Yusuf is horrified by his son’s decision to become a terrorist and embarks on a campaign to warn fellow Muslims to resist ISIS propaganda. Meanwhile, daughter Ikraan speaks out publicly about the rising trend of American xenophobia towards Muslims. The centerpiece of this documentary is a fascinating series of phone calls between Yusuf and his jailed son as they attempt to understand one another. Director Eunice Lau’s film is brutally frank and emotionally honest, complemented by lyrical cinematography. Accept the Call raises urgent but uncomfortable questions for all Americans. A brave and powerful documentary. (Woodstock Film Festival)