The Message is a very flawed, but very ambitious film. It set out to depict the origins of Islam on film – something fairly tricky, as it is conventially unacceptable and forbidden to show Mohammad in any form. Directed by Moustapha Akkad (probably best known as the producer behind the Halloween franchise, who in 2005 was sadly killed in a terrorist bombing in Jordan) and starring Anthony Quinn as Muhammad’s uncle, it uses some clever tricks to unfold this story without ever showing Mohammad or having his voice either, which is also forbidden. As you can imagine, even as such, it was a very, very controversial film.
Religions of the world fascinate me. How a religion is formed, how it ever gains a following, how religions always begin with noble intentions yet always end in corruption – it is some interesting stuff. I am actually in the midst of doing some heavy research on Islam and Mohammad as we speak (I will be teaching a two-week unit on it very soon actually), which is why I just recently watched The Messenger.
Now, they are looking to remake this film and call it The Messenger of Peace, I read over at Filmstalker.
“We have only the utmost respect for [the original film] but technology in cinema has advanced since the 1970s,” producer Oscar Zoghbi said. “This latest project will employ modern film techniques in its renewal of the first film’s core messages.”
They actually plan on filming this sucker in and around Mecca and Medina – which I assume will be a huge hurdle, as this would also require the permission of the Saudi Arabian government. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds though and hopefully this time nobody has to be taken hostage over it.
I am a huge advocate of shedding the correct light on the religion of Islam, which is generally unfairly portrayed by western media, including Hollywood. I don’t think that it is nice that this film is being made. I think it is necessary. The western world needs to understand this misunderstood religion and how better to reach them than through cinema? It is an epic story worth telling and Mohammad is one of the most influential people in history. Islam has over a billion followers in the world, after all.
What bugs me is all of the protesting that will take place. Many Muslims do not want any historical Islamic figures portrayed on film, for the same reason they do not want Mohammad portrayed – it idolizes them, or can, and that is forbidden in the Qur’an (whereas showing them is not actually forbidden). Do these protesters want to western world to understand Islam or would they rather the prejudice and stereotypes continue? This film may not change the world, but it could open up interest and held shed these harmful stereotypes. It can be just one tool to help people that are ignorant of the religion to understand that it is more than Osama bin Laden and suicide bombers.
I agree that a film needs to be made of the Prophet, but sadly like the original The Message this one will also be limited to largley a Muslim audience. For a film to engage the western audience it requires the ingredients they are accustomed to in films. Which neither The Message had nor this remake will likely to have too.
Standard Islamic tradition lays too many restrictions on depicting historical personalities to allow the recreation of them, without which any film attempting to project a human character will be flawed.
The only possiblity for a more thorough represenatation of this subject matter would be for it to emerge from Iran. As Shia traditions are more relaxed about pictorial representations of religios figures. Films around Prophets have already been made in Iran i.e. Jesus and Mary, who are both revered in Islam. Perhaps only Iranian film makers can do justice to creating a film on the origins of Islam withour the trappings of Hollywood, however the danger for it could be to fall fowl of sectarian interpretations
I wonder how they will deal with the massacre of the Banu Qurayza tribe.
Sounds kind of interesting and it would be neat to see how they get around not depicting his face or voice. Though I think for this subject matter I’d rather see a long, 4 part documentary on the subject. Maybe Ken Burns is available?
PBS has a great documentary called Islam: Empire of Faith that I recommend, Andrew.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
“it would be neat to see how they get around not depicting his face”
lets hope they do not go the Austin Powers route, conveniently placed shrubs and what have you.
so when will the movie be in the theaters?
Sadly I don’t think many people in the west will watch this with the intentions the makers had in mind….You pretty much guess what the review in the “New York Times” will be like….. Theres going to be a hell of a storm if it’s a terrible movie but an even bigger one if it is nice about muslims.
The hate and it’s repercussions (There will in all likelihood be thousands of amateur filmmakers ready for there 15 minutes of notoriety of making an anti-islam movie, as most of you are already aware).
Can at this be even be managed?!!
adam, i don’t know. look at Kingdom of Heaven… it potrayed muslims in a positive light and did not receive flak for it. i think that it even received really good reviews when the director’s cut was released.
it should be interesting though seeing as they are not able to show mohammad himself. i haven’t ever watched the original so i’m not sure how effective it was.