ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
Still reeling from his breakup, Mo, a practicing Muslim is caught by surprise when Kal, the quintessential All-American, offers to break fast with him during the holy month of Ramadan. Night after night, they begin to fall in love over what they have in common, as much as what they don't.

SYNOPSIS
Mo is at his Los Angeles workplace, doing what he does best — fighting to get one of his most vulnerable pediatric patients, Carli, a place on the transplant list. Mid-30s, attractive, Mo is full of passion and optimism as he heads home for dinner with his boyfriend Hassan. While his work life is controlled, stable, and decisive, Mo’s personal life is anything but when Hassan succumbs to cultural pressure, which ultimately results in their unexpected breakup.

Jumping forward a few months, Mo is still reeling and alone as Ramadan begins, the holiest time of year for Mo, who is Muslim. The first night of Ramadan underway, Mo reluctantly attends his best friend Sam’s birthday party where he meets Kal, an all-American white guy, and Mo’s opposite in every way.

The two have an unlikely spark which leads to a nightlong walk through the streets of West Hollywood, reminiscent of Before Sunrise, and Weekend. What seems like a one-night stand becomes something more as Kal continues showing up in Mo’s life, insisting on cooking the traditional “Iftar” meal and breaking fast with him each night. Familiar with Muslim customs from his childhood as a military brat, Kal was raised knowing that “those who fast, should not cook.”

Mo and Kal’s Iftar (the fast-breaking sunset meal) discussions navigate life, loss, family, and faith as they learn more about each other (and themselves) than they ever expected, and possibly more than they bargained for.

While the relationship seems charmed on the surface, they will (as with most budding relationships) reach a point of reckoning as more about their beliefs and priorities are revealed.

Mo, a character very much rooted in habit, falls back on old patterns, and it looks like he may run from what he has. Can Mo get out of his own way and embrace happiness or will he continue to be haunted by his past relationships?

PROJECT TYPE Narrative Feature

DIRECTOR Mike Mosallam
PRODUCER Sarah Bazzi, Seth Hauer, Alex Lampsos, Chris Panizzon

WEBSITE breakingfastthefilm.com