To Live and Die and Live

To Live and Die and Live displays how Basir, this film’s writer/director/cinematographer, cares more about color than he does a comprehensive edit or overall story even when he is the subject.

While the existing canon of good Detroit movies leaves a lot to be desired, To Live and Die and Live is an excellent step in the right direction.

Stylistically, To Live and Die and Live is cut down to the bone, with the essential action being conveyed but with a vital terseness that both frustrates and keeps you on your toes.

For all its tastefully exasperating gaps in character and storytelling specifics, “To Live & Die and Live” still has a persuasive overall vision...

It only sparingly conjures up the artist’s isolation within the creative field, failing to flesh that into something meaningful. The same with Muhammad’s place in Islam. These ideas seem a richer vein to mine than the family and the romantic drama.

The mood created by Basir, who also photographed To Live and Die and Live, is far more interesting than any over-the-top, formulaic family drama the film boxes itself into.

In its methodical approach towards addressing mental health, To Live and Die and Live defies and exceeds emotional expectations.



It’s rare to see Black Muslim Americans depicted with such understated authenticity.

A captivating story with some incredible performances.