The Honest Struggle

HONORING

Justin Mashouf, Director

The Honest Struggle is the story of an ex gang leader turned devout Muslim and his journey re-entering society after being incarcerated 3 times. The film follows Sadiq, an energetic 55 year old man who has spent over two decades of his life behind bars. Sadiq is chosen to live in a unique, faith-based reentry home in the Southside of Chicago which aims to transition its residents into the outside world while also turning them into leaders through community service projects and youth mentoring.

The film documents Sadiq’s continuing struggle to transition into society over a span of 3 years and explores the realities of reentry, the power of faith and the inspirational surprises of human character.

Justin Mashouf is a filmmaker and artist based in Los Angeles. His award winning 2019 film The Honest Struggle tells the story of an ex-gang chief turned devout Muslim reentering society after 24 years in prison. The film won the Audience Award at Cinequest Film Festival, the Social Impact Award the Global Muslim Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival. The Honest Struggle has received over 10 screenings at international film festivals and has been featured on Al Jazeera, WGN, and Okayplayer, among many others. Justin’s work editing specials for local Los Angeles news channel KTLA 5, has earned him 4 Los Angeles Emmy Awards, a Golden Mic Award, and a Southern California Journalism Award. 

“Through a fateful encounter in 2007, I found myself befriended by a lone Muslim convict in South Dakota’s Yankton Federal Prison Camp. Through hand-written letters, he informed me of the unique and vibrant Muslim convert culture in the prison system, which inspired me to begin producing this film. I have found this culture to be particularly worthy of documenting because of its outstanding self-discipline and radical reformation in the face of trying circumstances. The stories of Muslim converts in prison are not only inspiring to me as a Muslim but also as an American, who believes that everyone deserves a second chance to reinvent their legacy.
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— JUSTIN MASHOUF