{{other uses|Stray (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = A Stray | image = A Stray poster.jpg | alt = | caption = | director = Musa Syeed | producer = Jamila Wignot | writer = Musa Syeed | story = | starring = Barkhad Abdirahman | music = | cinematography = Yoni Brook | editing = Kamau Bilal<br>Ray Hubley | studio = Vilcek Foundation | distributor = | released = {{Film date|2016|3|14|South by Southwest|ref1=<ref>{{cite news|last=Lussenhop|first=Jessica|title=A Stray: Finding and filming the real Somali immigrant experience|date=27 October 2016|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37735113|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref>}} | runtime = 82 minutes | country = United States | language = English<br>Somali | budget = | gross = }}
'''''A Stray''''' is a 2016 American drama film starring Barkhad Abdirahman.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Harvey|first=Dennis|title=Film Review: 'A Stray'|date=29 March 2016|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/markets-festivals/a-stray-review-1201732143/|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sealy|first=Shirley|title=Film Review: A Stray|date=20 October 2016|magazine=Film Journal International|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/reviews/film-review-stray|accessdate=8 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191922/http://www.filmjournal.com/reviews/film-review-stray|archive-date=8 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Murthi|first=Vikram|title='A Stray' Exclusive Trailer: A Somali Refugee In Minneapolis Befriends A Stray Dog|date=11 October 2016|work=IndieWire|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/10/a-stray-trailer-barkhad-abdirahman-sxsw-2016-musa-syeed-1201735608/|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=DeFore|first=John|title='A Stray': Film Review|date=22 October 2016|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/a-stray-940707|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref>
==Plot== A young Somali man named Adan (played by Barkhad Abdirahman) is kicked out of his home and must survive on the streets of his hometown, Minneapolis. He begrudgingly befriends a stray dog, which brings him companionship. However, it also brings Adan further exile from his family, his friends, and his community, as caring for a dog as a pet may be seen as haram for Muslims,<ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter: Using A Dog For Hunting And Other Than That|work=Sunnah.com|url=https://sunnah.com/abudawud/17/1|accessdate=30 January 2021}}</ref> especially in Somali culture. The film explores loneliness and belonging with intimate shots of Minneapolis seen through the eyes of a downtrodden Somali immigrant.
==Cast== *Barkhad Abdirahman as Adan *Christina Baldwin *Ifrah Mansour *Faysal Ahmed *Fathia Absie *Ismael Abdullahi
==Reception== The film has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Stray|work=Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_stray/|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref> Omer M. Mozaffar of RogerEbert.com awarded the film four stars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mozaffar|first=Omer M.|title=A Stray|date=21 October 2016|publisher=RogerEbert.com|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-stray-2016|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref> Chris Hewitt of the ''St. Paul Pioneer Press'' awarded it three and a half stars.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hewitt|first=Chris|title='A Stray' gets right the story of a man, a dog and 'trying to do the right thing'|date=18 October 2016|newspaper=St. Paul Pioneer Press|url=https://www.twincities.com/2016/10/18/a-stray-movie-review/|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref> Colin Covert of the ''Star Tribune'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four.<ref>{{cite news|last=Covert|first=Colin|title=Somali actor shines in Minneapolis-filmed drama 'A Stray'|date=14 October 2016|newspaper=Star Tribune|url=http://www.startribune.com/a-lonely-man-finds-a-new-best-friend-in-stray-dog/396964611/|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref>
However, the film received a negative review from Thaddeus McCollum and Cameron Meier of ''Orlando Weekly''; they awarded the film one and a half stars out of five.<ref>{{cite news|last2=Meier|first2=Cameron|last1=McCollum|first1=Thaddeus|title=6 movies to skip at the 2017 Florida Film Festival|date=19 April 2017|newspaper=Orlando Weekly|url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/6-movie-to-skip-at-the-2017-florida-film-festival/Content?oid=3889389|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|5447852}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|a_stray}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stray, A}} Category:2016 films Category:American drama films Category:Somali-language films Category:Films set in Minnesota Category:Films shot in Minnesota Category:2016 American films