Among the Believers

There's little that's not dispiriting about "Among the Believers" and its measured, direct entre into a closed world of hopeless boys and girls memorizing the Koran, but forbidden from learning its meanings.

While it is maddening to see the aversion to open-minded education by Mr. Aziz ("'Progressive thought' is dying," he declares, pleased), we also see the stark poverty that leaves others with few choices but to follow him.

It insists on seeing its subjects' humanity - something rare in the Western press, particularly when reporting on Islam, and especially fundamentalism.

This isn't Friday night viewing, and there's certainly nothing groundbreaking here, but if you're interested in gaining insight into the rationale of Jihadism, this should certainly be a pitstop.