By Ali Mushtaq
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/7/25 – All the Men I Met but Never Dated is a poignant short film from Pakistani filmmaker Muneeb Hassan, officially selected for the Oscar-qualifying Woodstock Film Festival. The film centers on the story of a South Asian gay man (played by Ahmed Shihab-Eldin) and his fleeting romance with a White man (Jared P. Smith), whom he meets at the gym. As the two grow closer, the South Asian man’s struggle with being closeted begins to erode their connection.
At its core, the film explores the tension between cultural values, particularly the clash between Eastern and Western perspectives on identity, love, and acceptance. The narrative offers a powerful commentary on the emotional toll of living in the closet, particularly within non-Western communities, and the complexities of coming out. It invites Western audiences to step into the shoes of individuals navigating cultural expectations that differ from their own, shedding light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by marginalized groups.
