'Witness' Review: A Quietly Daring Short Film That Demands to Be Seen
- Romey Norton
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
By Romey Norton - July 2, 2025
At just 15 minutes long, Witness accomplishes what many feature-length dramas spend hours attempting: it creates a moment of genuine tension between personal truth and public tradition, and holds us in it, uncomfortably but necessarily.
What is 'Witness' about?
Set in a small American Muslim community, the film follows respected Imam Mustafa (Faran Tahir) as he prepares for a sacred ceremony. But when a trans man steps forward as the official witness, Mustafa is faced with a decision that challenges the very foundation of his beliefs. It’s a moment of deep moral reckoning, quietly portrayed with restraint and intensity.
This short film doesn’t lecture or lean on melodrama. Instead, it trusts its audience to wrestle with the questions that ripple through its narrative: Can tradition evolve without losing its meaning? And what does it mean to truly see and recognise someone, especially when doing so challenges long-standing norms?
The script is careful, intimate, and easy to follow and understand. It asks questions that many may have when it comes to trans people in the Muslim faith/community. It’s slightly sad, frustrating, but does well in showing both opinions/accounts. It was very interesting to have a woman (Miral played by Nemma Adeni) sticking up for the trans character and not a man. I enjoyed this choice as it shows solidarity, acceptance, and that a woman has a strong, valid opinion about her religion and her God.
The setting is modest, from a prayer hall to a corridor, but there’s beauty in the simplicity. The cinematography is warm and every frame contributes to the emotional build.
Faran Tahir is commanding as Imam Mustafa. You can feel the weight of generations pressing down on his shoulders as he quietly debates what is “right.”
Opposite him, Shaan Dasani delivers a performance that is subtle and dignified, bringing subtle strength to the role. Both actors have intense and vulnerable chemistry on screen, and it’s beautiful to watch.
Witness is not about finding easy answers; it’s about what it costs to ask the hard questions. By focusing on a single moment of decision, it invites us into the heart of a larger conversation about inclusion, authenticity, and spiritual leadership in a changing world. It’s a powerful, patient, and thought-provoking short film. It left me wanting more - wanting to understand more. If you’re a fan of short films, Witness is one I highly recommend watching.
'Witness' has screened at Slamdance, Cleveland, Inside Out Toronto, Bentonville, and NewFilmmakers LA
Love emotionally rich shorts and festival standouts? Find more indie gems, filmmaker interviews, and docu-drama reviews at Film Focus Online.
