Young Ahmed is a 2019 Belgian drama film directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. The film centers around a 13-year-old Muslim boy named Ahmed (played by Idir Ben Addi) who lives in a small town in Belgium with his mother and siblings. After being radicalized by an extremist imam, Ahmed becomes fixated on Islamic fundamentalism and begins to reject the teachings of his moderate Muslim teacher and adopt a more extreme interpretation of the Quran.
Ahmed decides to take matters into his own hands and plans to kill his teacher, Ines (Myriem Akheddiou), whom he sees as a bad influence on his religious beliefs. He becomes increasingly aggressive towards her and is sent to a rehabilitation center by the school to address his behavior. However, Ahmed's religious convictions only become stronger, and he starts to view the people around him, including his family, as "impure" and "sinful."
The tension in the film builds as we see Ahmed's transformation from a sensitive and vulnerable child to a dangerous radical. The Dardennes' direction is restrained and naturalistic, and they avoid sentimentalism or melodrama in their portrayal of Ahmed's story.
Ultimately, Young Ahmed is a thought-provoking exploration of identity, extremism, and the power of religion. It raises important questions about the role of family, community, and education in shaping a young person's worldview, and the complex social and psychological forces that drive individuals towards radicalization.
