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Stranger at the Gate

  • 2022
  • 29m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Stranger at the Gate (2022)
DocumentaryShort

A U.S. Marine plots a terrorist attack on a small-town American mosque, but his plan takes an unexpected turn when he comes face-to-face with the people he is about to kill.A U.S. Marine plots a terrorist attack on a small-town American mosque, but his plan takes an unexpected turn when he comes face-to-face with the people he is about to kill.A U.S. Marine plots a terrorist attack on a small-town American mosque, but his plan takes an unexpected turn when he comes face-to-face with the people he is about to kill.

  • Director
    • Joshua Seftel
  • Stars
    • Bibi Bahrami
    • Saber Bahrami
    • Zaki Bahrami
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joshua Seftel
    • Stars
      • Bibi Bahrami
      • Saber Bahrami
      • Zaki Bahrami
    • 44User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos4

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    Top cast8

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    Bibi Bahrami
    • Self
    Saber Bahrami
    • Self
    Zaki Bahrami
    • Self
    Kent Kurtz
    • Self
    Dana McKinney
    • Self
    Emily McKinney
    • Self
    Richard McKinney
    • Self
    Jomo Williams
    • Self
    • Director
      • Joshua Seftel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews44

    6.61.7K
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    Featured reviews

    10mnaqashali-14757

    Incredible...!!

    The story is really something I've ever seen. Everyone should watch this documentary. These type of stories are very few that elaborate how kindness and humanity change the lives. And the story shows the facts as facts. The documentary truly shows the dangerous effects of hate.

    It also shows how peace can change a personality and mindset. And how love can heal a person and give them courage and strength.

    I hope no one miss this as it's truly a heart touching story and it shows the real meanings of humanity and kindness.

    And thanks for sharing this story with the world...!!

    Thanks a lot...!!
    10skippernichols

    Brilliant!

    This is an intriguing true story, which my wife and I watched at the Walla Walla Movie Crush last weekend. It's a lesson of a dramatic change by a Marine after many tours of combat duty. It reveals that love and kindness can change hearts and minds. Richard McKinney was in Walla Walla and was very open and willing to talk to me (also a Marine). His daughter also plays an important role in this story. Do not miss seeing this .. DO NOT MISS SEEING THIS!!!
    9jpismyname

    The world needs more kindness

    The documentary is about Mac McKinney, a former Marine who struggled with PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. He developed hatred towards the Islam community. This film tells his journey from hatred towards understanding and compassion.

    Really a chilling short documentary. The people he intended to kill would save not just his life, but also his soul. I just thought maybe the film could've been a bit longer, I dunno. But overall I find it riveting.

    People, and I also mean the whole world, needs to see this. Love and kindness are the cure for all these hatred going on in this crazy world.
    7ferguson-6

    people are strange ... and can change

    Should you ever doubt that kindness and understanding can make a difference, please watch this film from director Joshua Seftel (WAR, INC, 2008). The 29 minute run time may just rejuvenate your faith in human beings to change their attitude and be accepting of those they once distrusted.

    As a Marine, Richard "Mac" McKinney was trained to hate and kill Muslims. He was informed that they were terrorists out to destroy his country, and September 11, 2001 was all the proof he needed. A simple question from his young daughter Emily convinced him he needed to act, so he plotted to bomb the Islamic Culture Center of Muncie (Indiana). So this former Marine, a trained killer and hater, headed to the mosque to obtain the "proof" he needed to convince his daughter that his actions were righteous.

    A funny thing happened. Mac was treated kindly by the folks there. They asked him questions and guided him to a better understanding. Now this didn't happen overnight. A shift in beliefs never occurs quickly. However, their treatment of Mac not only (unknowingly) saved their own lives, it saved his as well. He may have been trained to not think of his war targets as human beings, but he found them to show him more humanity than he'd ever known. It's chilling to see Emily ponder what it would have been like to have a mass murderer as a father, and mostly we are inspired to see good people work so diligently at accepting someone who initially showed them nothing but hatred. Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is one of the producers of the film.
    10avtarsur

    A triumph for humanity

    This is a heartwarming demonstration of how in the midst of darkness, love and humanity can prevail. An uplifting piece amidst the global suffering of COVID and war.

    Inner peace is not found in isolation, hatred of others or by renouncing the world, but can be attained as an active family member and member of one's community.

    The importance of sharing with others what life has given, and living life fully with an awareness of the divine within each of us will make this world a better place.

    This short films highlights all that is good with community and love of thy neighbour. An important reminder to us all. Highly recommend.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      In a 2023 interview with AwardsWatch, Joshua Seftel described showing the finished film for the first time at the Islamic Center of Muncie, where the film was shot: "We set up a screening in the basement of the Islamic Center and I didn't know what people were going to think, if they were going to like it, if they were going to hate it, and about 80 people showed up. We showed the film and when it was done, the lights came on and I was like, 'Ok, what's this gonna be' and someone stood up in the back and he raised his hand and he said, 'I just want to say that I believe every American needs to watch this film'. First of all, I was relieved that they liked it, but I also felt like, 'Yeah, now this is my burden, this is my obligation to make sure that every American sees this film' because I think it does have a message in it and a power in the story that has the ability to change hearts and minds and change the way people think about Muslims, but also the way that people might think about the division between us and the possibility of building bridges where it might seem impossible."
    • Connections
      Referenced in Oscars Nominations Announcement (2023)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 5, 2022 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Website
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Незнакомец у ворот
    • Filming locations
      • Muncie, Indiana, USA(Locations used during the film, including the Islamic Center of Muncie.)
    • Production company
      • Smartypants Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 29m
    • Color
      • Color

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