King of South Shields

Synopsis

In 1977, the boxer Muhammad Ali travelled to the North East of England and was married in a mosque in South Shields. This film examines how this event affected the sense of identity of young British Muslim men and women who were present.

About the director

Born in Tehran, Iran, Tina Gharavi is an award-winning filmmaker, artist, and academic trained in the US and France. Her work has been broadcast internationally and she is noted for innovative cross-platform work on migration as well as issues related to equality and diversity.

Previous films:

Closer
Mother/Country
A Town Like Lackawanna

According to the filmmakers

“I made The King of South Shields as a labour of love. Ali is my hero and he came to get married in the town I live in. Ali should be as important a role model for us today as he was in the 1960s. However, his illness has meant he is not in the spotlight talking about current world events. I wanted to make a film which would remind us about Muhammad Ali’s message of peace & unity.”

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