The Message 'Mohammad, Messenger of God' (1977)
Directed by: Moustapha Akkad
The title sequence of the film opens with a message from the director, stating that his motion picture is deemed historically accurate by various Islamic authorities across the globe. This is followed up by a safeguard determining that at no point in the film is the sacred image of the Prophet Mohammad physically portrayed.
The Message chronicles Mohammed’s life and the story of how he converted thousands of followers in Arabia during the 7th Century. It is told from the perspective of the prophet's family, followers and enemies as he is rejected from Mecca, the place of his birth.
My initial reaction to the portrayal of Mohammed was of keen intrigue. There are an infinite number of ways that the director could have achieved this and he uses several methods throughout the course of the film, the most persistent of which being a subtle chiming melody whenever the prophet is close to the action. This works to a degree, but when the camera is used as a means for the audience to witness the film through the eyes of Mohammed, it appears inconsistent with the rest of the production and I found it most distracting. There are several sequences when characters interact with Mohammed as though he is sat out of the camera's view, and this provides a much more aesthetically pleasing depiction.
Having said that, it is easy to get carried away with the various means that could have been accomplished to achieve this tricky chronicle and to neglect the fantastic scenes of unity and violence. Moustapha Akkad handles his battle sequences with as much care and precision as he does scenes of understanding and joy. The torture of a black slave is beautifully contrasted when the same man is freed and helps to build the first mosque in Medina; he stands on a high wall and initiates the first call to prayer, a powerful scene that sheds brilliant light on the foundations of Islam.
The Message is the first historical chronicle I have seen on the subject of Islam, and it is certainly an inspiring introduction to the Muslim world on screen. While I have my doubts as to how Mohammed was portrayed, there are scenes in the film that are riddled with intricate tableaux that provide a fantastic canvas for the informative story that unfolds.
Directed by: Moustapha Akkad
The title sequence of the film opens with a message from the director, stating that his motion picture is deemed historically accurate by various Islamic authorities across the globe. This is followed up by a safeguard determining that at no point in the film is the sacred image of the Prophet Mohammad physically portrayed.
The Message chronicles Mohammed’s life and the story of how he converted thousands of followers in Arabia during the 7th Century. It is told from the perspective of the prophet's family, followers and enemies as he is rejected from Mecca, the place of his birth.
My initial reaction to the portrayal of Mohammed was of keen intrigue. There are an infinite number of ways that the director could have achieved this and he uses several methods throughout the course of the film, the most persistent of which being a subtle chiming melody whenever the prophet is close to the action. This works to a degree, but when the camera is used as a means for the audience to witness the film through the eyes of Mohammed, it appears inconsistent with the rest of the production and I found it most distracting. There are several sequences when characters interact with Mohammed as though he is sat out of the camera's view, and this provides a much more aesthetically pleasing depiction.
Having said that, it is easy to get carried away with the various means that could have been accomplished to achieve this tricky chronicle and to neglect the fantastic scenes of unity and violence. Moustapha Akkad handles his battle sequences with as much care and precision as he does scenes of understanding and joy. The torture of a black slave is beautifully contrasted when the same man is freed and helps to build the first mosque in Medina; he stands on a high wall and initiates the first call to prayer, a powerful scene that sheds brilliant light on the foundations of Islam.
The Message is the first historical chronicle I have seen on the subject of Islam, and it is certainly an inspiring introduction to the Muslim world on screen. While I have my doubts as to how Mohammed was portrayed, there are scenes in the film that are riddled with intricate tableaux that provide a fantastic canvas for the informative story that unfolds.
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