The message (1976)
I thought of giving a go at a movie on Prophet Mohammad. I was curious to see how they made a movie about the Prophet as the Moslems are known to be touchy about his depiction as no depiction can be as perfect as He is. Remember the Danish caricature of him and the ruckus and bloodshed that it created.
At the beginning of the film, the producers clarified that their story was authenticated and approved for screening by some high authority in Islam. In keeping with the sensitivities of Moslems, the Prophet is not acted by any actors and even his voice is not heard. His orders are repeated by people around him. His view is shown as if he is looking through the camera.
The movie predates a time when Mecca appears apparently prosperous with thriving business activities and multiple religious festivities but beneath the apparent prosperity, there are the unhappy lot - the slaves and the female population who are treated as second class citizen as female infanticide is so prevalent.
Then comes along an illiterate shepherd who claims to be a prophet, recites wise phrases and promises a religion where all men and women are equal, between and amongst them. He promises a just religion where slaves can stand shoulder in shoulder and embrace their masters in the name of brotherhood. Naturally, Mohammad's immediate relatives, the slaves who have no rights, the nomads who are looked down upon are overjoyed. The ruling clan, the well to do and the rich are not impressed.
Just like many major social transformations in the history of mankind, religion gained popularity amongst the downtrodden and the cast-down for promise of better life and equality. As expected, any change in social arrangement is paralleled with defence of status quo by man's primordial primitive defence mechanism - violence, gore and blood shed! The story of this film is all too familiar to readers of Malaysian post 1970 history textbooks. -Mohamad and his followers are persecuted, the hijra to Medina, the building of the first mosque, fights with the Mecca ruler, the 10year truce plan which crumbled after 2, the snowballing of number of believers, the march of Moslems back into Mecca, the conquer of Mecca, the destruction of idols donning the interior of Kaabah and meaningless violence all in the name of proclaiming that their God is superior than the other's.
The movie ends with various quotations and advice apparently from the Prophet which promotes universal good, peace and the care of environment and the unfortunate fellow human beings. Looks like also the good teachings of God have been hijacked and manipulated by man for their own selfish agenda.
I thought of giving a go at a movie on Prophet Mohammad. I was curious to see how they made a movie about the Prophet as the Moslems are known to be touchy about his depiction as no depiction can be as perfect as He is. Remember the Danish caricature of him and the ruckus and bloodshed that it created.
At the beginning of the film, the producers clarified that their story was authenticated and approved for screening by some high authority in Islam. In keeping with the sensitivities of Moslems, the Prophet is not acted by any actors and even his voice is not heard. His orders are repeated by people around him. His view is shown as if he is looking through the camera.
The movie predates a time when Mecca appears apparently prosperous with thriving business activities and multiple religious festivities but beneath the apparent prosperity, there are the unhappy lot - the slaves and the female population who are treated as second class citizen as female infanticide is so prevalent.
Then comes along an illiterate shepherd who claims to be a prophet, recites wise phrases and promises a religion where all men and women are equal, between and amongst them. He promises a just religion where slaves can stand shoulder in shoulder and embrace their masters in the name of brotherhood. Naturally, Mohammad's immediate relatives, the slaves who have no rights, the nomads who are looked down upon are overjoyed. The ruling clan, the well to do and the rich are not impressed.
Just like many major social transformations in the history of mankind, religion gained popularity amongst the downtrodden and the cast-down for promise of better life and equality. As expected, any change in social arrangement is paralleled with defence of status quo by man's primordial primitive defence mechanism - violence, gore and blood shed! The story of this film is all too familiar to readers of Malaysian post 1970 history textbooks. -Mohamad and his followers are persecuted, the hijra to Medina, the building of the first mosque, fights with the Mecca ruler, the 10year truce plan which crumbled after 2, the snowballing of number of believers, the march of Moslems back into Mecca, the conquer of Mecca, the destruction of idols donning the interior of Kaabah and meaningless violence all in the name of proclaiming that their God is superior than the other's.
The movie ends with various quotations and advice apparently from the Prophet which promotes universal good, peace and the care of environment and the unfortunate fellow human beings. Looks like also the good teachings of God have been hijacked and manipulated by man for their own selfish agenda.
A little bit of trivia...
The producer had big problems trying to get finances for the production. After hitting a dead end in Hollywood, this film was actually financed by the presently recently disposed despot, Muamar Gadaffi. It was filmed in Libya and Morocco but I am darn sure that they were scenes of Malaysian mosques and Malay Moslem congregation praying.
Just as I had thought before watching the movie that Anthony Quinn is to act as the Prophet, an extremist Moslem group took siege of a building in Washington prior to its premier screening under this assumption. It was only settled after lost of several lives.
Memorable quote:
"Yes, I am Prophet of God. Even I do not know what would become of me!"
I wonder what made you watch this film. A religion that belittles other religions and claims to be the perfect one.
ReplyDeleteOn the superficial every religion seem accommodating and receptive. Once you are in it, you discover that somehow they proclaim to be superior to others and restrictive. Perhaps it is not the religion per se but the people running the show! It is like a new car - the salesman will promise the moon and the stars but once you have paid the down-payment or committed to buy, then all the short comings of the car or deal would manifest! Is it the car or the salesman?
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