Though many of the films that are being talked about during awards season debuted in the latter part of the year, one of our favorite films of 2019 is a project we first saw all the way back in January. Minhal Baig’s latest film, “Hala,” is a beautifully shot coming-of-age story that is unlike anything else you’ll see all year. And part of the reason we can’t seem to stop thinking about “Hala” is the beautiful score from composer Mandy Hoffman (“The Lovers”).
And in honor of “Hala” arriving in theaters this week, and the soundtrack coming in the days to come, we’re proud to give our readers a chance to hear an exclusive track from Hoffman’s score. The composer brings a beauty to the film that helps tell the story of a young Pakistani American teenager trying to reconcile being a typical teen with the expectations of her family and religious beliefs.
“’Hala’ is a universal story, a cinematic exploration about maturation,” said Hoffman. “My mind turned to strings, as they are such cinematic instruments, and they would complement the beautiful, muted cinematography perfectly.”
She continued, “As for musical motifs, I riffed hard on the poetry in the film. Hala is a poet, and it’s how she makes sense of the world. It offered a lovely and dreamy rhythmic pace to set the music to. There was one poem in the film that particularly grabbed me, which was a pivotal scene when Hala was reciting poetry to her love interest and showing vulnerability.”
READ MORE: Best & Worst Of The 2019 Sundance Film Festival
We were lucky enough to catch “Hala” during its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. In our review, we called the film “keenly observed and quietly powerful.”
“Hala” arrives in select theaters today. The soundtrack of the film, featuring Hoffman’s music, will be released digitally, courtesy of Lakeshore Records, on December 6, the same day that Baig’s film is available to stream on Apple TV+.
Here’s the synopsis for the film:
Seventeen-year-old Pakistani American teenager Hala (Geraldine Viswanathan) struggles to balance desire with her familial, cultural and religious obligations. As she comes into her own, she grapples with a secret that threatens to unravel her family.
Track List
01. Title
02. Gym Class
03. School Bus
04. Hala, Your Name
05. In The Library
06. The Push And The Pull
07. Phone Exchange
08. The Playground
09. After Sex
10. Breakup
11. Dazed In Class
12. Arranged Marriage
13. Mr Lawrence’s House
14. Remorse
15. Divorce
16. Life Moves On