ADVERTISEMENTs
_page-0001.jpg)
-10”-x-5.jpg)
Islam's Greatest Stories of Love: A journey through grief and timeless romance
The travelogue-style documentary follows Ariella Gayotto Hohl as she journeys through libraries, museums, and unexpected places to learn about five timeless stories of love.
-
Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 14, Aug 2025
- 00:47 EDT
- 11
.jpg)
Poster of the 'Islam's Greatest Stories of Love' / PBS
PBS and Unity Productions Foundation recently announced Alex Kronemer's 'Islam's Greatest Stories of Love', a two-hour documentary about how a heartbroken woman finds solace in five great love stories from the Islamic tradition.
Scheduled to premiere on Aug. 22 on PBS and YouTube, the film narrates the story of Ariella Gayotto Hohl, a young Muslim woman grappling with the loss of her father. The grief begins a deeply personal journey to understand one of humanity's most enduring questions: What is love – and how do we heal and move forward when it's taken from us?
The travelogue-style documentary follows Hohl as she journeys through libraries, museums, and unexpected places where these timeless stories continue to live.
The host of the documentary, Hohl described her newly discovered understanding of love and said, "This journey changed the way I understand love. I came to see it not just as an emotion.”
ALSO READ: Hansal Mehta's ‘Gandhi’ becomes first Indian series to premiere at TIFF
She further said, “Love is a force that empowers, endures, and transforms. It is a choice we make, a value we live by, and a legacy that outlasts us. These stories reminded me that even in grief, love doesn't end. In fact, it echoes through time.”
.jpg)
Glimpses of the documentary / PBSAs Ariella travels across cultures, centuries, and spiritual landscapes, she encounters five unforgettable stories that reshape her understanding of love.
The first story she discovers is the story of 'Layla and Majnun', the original story of star-crossed lovers whose names echoed in poetry for centuries before Romeo and Juliet.
The 'Taj Mahal's Hidden Message' was her second discovery; a closer look at the sacred calligraphy on this wonder of the world reveals its hidden secrets about devotion and eternity.
The third story is a rarely told story of familial love is of Malcolm X and His Sister and the role it played in shaping one of the most iconic leaders in American history.
'Rumi and Shams', who shared a bond so transformative, it sparked what many consider the greatest love poetry ever written was the next story she unraveled.
Lastly, Ariella explored the life of Prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija, whose love helped build the foundations of Islam.
Director, writer and producer of the documentary, Alex Kronemer said, “Love is the most written-about emotion in human history, and the Islamic world is no exception.”
He added, “Yet many of its most iconic love stories remain unfamiliar to American audiences. This film offers a rare opportunity to see love through a different lens – one that is poetic, spiritual, and profoundly human. For many viewers, it will feel like a revelation.”
“Alex Kronemer and Unity Productions Foundation once again bring to public television the rare untold stories of Islamic culture,” said Donald Thoms, consulting executive producer.
Kronemer also noted, “This film is beautifully crafted, and audiences are thrilled to have this content coming to their homes. I'm proud to be a part of this wonderful story.”
'Islam's Greatest Stories of Love' is a film made by Unity Productions, featuring and co-produced by Ariella Gayotto Hohl. The film is written and directed by Alex Kronemer with Jeremy Morrison as producer. Executive producers are Michael Wolfe (also a co-writer) and Jaawaad Abdul Rahman with Donald Thoms as consulting executive producer. The Executive in Charge for PBS is Bill Margol.
Related
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login