The Whirling Dervish

"The Whirling Dervish" is a short film written and directed by Rory Bain. It tells the story of a 16 year-old Muslim boy on a spiritual quest and determined to gain his Naqshibandi Sheikh's approval, while battling temptation when he meets his beautiful neighbor. "The Whirling Dervish" is a story of commitment, guilt, desire, loss, and the discovery of true love.

The story draws on the universality and the humanity of the characters' needs and the similarities we share when it comes to religion, duty, temptation, lust, love, infatuation, obsession, and guilt. It aims to challenge the stereotypical way in which Muslims tend to be portrayed by our media and entertainment industry.

The film is currently in post-production and set for completion in late 2008. Upon completion, The Whirling Dervish is expected to enter numerous international film festivals.

The Whirling Dervish

Plot

"The Whirling Dervish" is a dramatic short story, involving three very different individuals. The teenager, Zahir (played by Manish Dayal) is a naive student looking for the quickest path to gain the approval of his strict master, Sheikh Al Kazir (played by Michael De Nola). Zahir finds himself instead, discovering his sexuality and the darker, obsessive side of his nature. Anna, (played by Jennifer Missoni) the alluring, mythical beauty who seems, on the surface, to lead to the perfect life. She is young, beautiful, and thin. She throws dinner parties and does yoga, but below the surface lurks her own dark obsessions and secrets. The Sheikh embodies the religious authority figure that is revered and feared. He is the moral conscience of the story.

etting

The story takes place in a crumbling walk-up apartment building in a crumbling industrial waterfront neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Anna's presence in the neighborhood is a sign that the area is beginning to gentrify. The walk-up houses strangers, who live in close proximity to one another. They hear each other and although they often imagine the lives that go on behind the paper-thin walls above and below, that is the extent of their relationship. In this building, one can neither be truly private or intimate.

Cast

Manish Dayal ("Zahir"): Manish is currently a lead in the Broadway debut of, "RAFTA, RAFTA" at the New Group. Film/TV credits: "THE WHIRLING DERVISH" (2008), "WHEN KIRAN MET KAREN" (2008), "ELISE" (2007), "KALI MA" (2007), "4TH AND FOREVER" (2007), "FINDING PRIYA A PROM DATE" (2007), "ASTORIA PARK" (2006), "CAIN'S MARK" (2006), "ORIGAMI DEATHMATCH" (2006), "ON THE OTHER SIDE" (2006), "THA FAITHFUL" (2006), and "TIME AND TEH HOUR RUN." Manish's upcoming credits inlude: "JOY LIES" (2008) and "ROUND TRIP TICKET" (2009).

Jennifer Missoni ("Anna"):Jennifer's TV credits include the role of Anya Pugach in , The Attractive Woman in 2 episodes of "DAMAGES", Anna Sakalov in "LAW & ORDER". Also starring as Elissa in the Off-Broadway production of "ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW RISE JEANS WITH HIGH CLASS ISSUES", which opened September 13, 2007 at The Players Theater in New York City. Jennifer Missoni was born in Italy and raised in Varese where she attended the European School. She finished her high school studies at The American School in Switzerland, graduating with honors in musical theater. In 2004, Jennifer moved to Manhattan and began studying with Susan Batson at her studio, Black Nexxus.

Michael De Nola ("Sheikh")Michael's Film/TV credits include: Ryan in "WINTER OF FROZEN DREAMS" (2008), Hasid in "THE NARROWS" (2008), Dr. Tomas Pelkalvski in "PUSSYFOOT" (2008), Kreshnik Pernaska in "LAW & ORDER", Diamond Dov in , as Michael De Nola in "LAND OF THE BLIND" (2006), The Gangster in "OUT FOR VENGEANCE", as The Billy Nayer Show "THE KETCHUP AND MUSTARD MAN" (1994), Clarinetist, BIlly Nayer (1992).

Production Team

Rory Bain- Director
Corey Einstein- Director of Photography
Matthew Achterberg- Editor
Neil Benezra- Sound Designer
Sissel Kardel- Production Designer
Nadya Fadeeva- Costume Designer
Rory Bain, Fareen Butt, Ali Khan- Screenplay
Latifa Noor, Jenufa Gleich- Music
Michael E. Goodin, Shawn Rice- 1st Assistant Director
Vera Zago- Production Manager
Daniel Goldberg- Production Coordinator
Olivia Kuan- 1st Assistant Camera
Fletcher Wolfe, Carole McClintock, Michelle Coughlan, Alize Dadduk- 2nd Assitant Camera
Brandon Summer- Steadicam Operator
Ashley Taraban- Art Director
Brian Harnick- Gaffer
Sebastian Nicolet- Best Boy Gaffer
Mikhail Sterkin- Sound Mixer
Dmitry Volovik- Boom Operator
John Alcantara, Alex Engel- Key Grip
Jason McCammon-Best Boy Grip
Keith Davis- Assistant Editor
Vera Zago- Script Supervisor
Fareen Butt, Ali Khan- Arabic/Prayer Consultant
Stephan B. Gleich- Legal Consultant
Michael Tumminia- Accountant
Mike Brant, Joseph Shihab, Ron Childress, Thomas Engelhardt- Production Assistants