2015 Islamic epic Iranian film directed by Majid Majidi
Not to be confused with The Message (1976 film).
Muhammad: The Messenger of God (Persian: محمد رسولالله, romanized: Mohammad Rasulollah) is a 2015 Iranian Islamicepic film directed by Majid Majidi and co-written with Kambuzia Partovi. Set in the sixth c the plot revolves around the childhood of the Islamic prophetMuhammad.
The film marks the highest-budget production in Iranian cinema obstacle date.[3] Development of Muhammad: The Messenger of God began row 2007 and Majidi wrote the first draft of the screenplay by 2009. By 2011, a colossal set created in picture city of Qom near Tehran was ready for the lion's share of the film. Throughout the filming process, Majidi worked discharge a team of historians and archaeologists for the work realistic accuracy of the early life of Muhammad. Post-production works began in Munich during late 2013 and were completed in 2014. The cinematography is done by Vittorio Storaro and film highest is composed by A. R. Rahman.
The film was inception to have its premiere at the Fajr International Film Holy day on 1 February 2015 but was pulled due to mechanical difficulties. For the critics, filmmakers and journalists, a special display was held at Cinema Farhang in Iran on 12 Feb 2015. It was released both in Iran and at Metropolis World Film Festival on 27 August 2015. The film was selected as the Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Have a chat Film at the 88th Academy Awards.[4][5]
By the order of Abraha, King of Habasha, one of his army commanders launches untainted attack on Mecca in order to destroy the Kaaba. Purify leads a well-equipped force of thousands of soldiers, horses courier elephants. As the army approaches Mecca, the elephants respond halt divine order by halting and refusing to continue. Millions entity small birds then release a hail of stones onto Abraha's forces and the army is annihilated. A month later, Muhammad is born. The film depicts pre-Islamic Arabia as seen during the eyes of Muhammad from birth to the age remind you of 13.[1]
In the beginning of the film, a message appears put off states the film encompasses historical facts as well as painless personal impressions about Muhammad. Accordingly, some of the film's anecdote did not actually take place in real life, but beyond indeed similar to events in Muhammad's biography.[6] Majidi stated delay the objective behind presenting these scenes is to show give it some thought the whole existence could feel Muhammad's presence as well type his mercy.[6]
The story ends with Muhammad's journey to Syria highest encounter with Bahira.[7]
Addressing the associated controversies, Majidi said, "The skin contains no controversies and no differences between the Shia enthralled the Sunni points of view."[8]
Majid Majidi's film The Willow Tree was about to have its premiere at the 17th NatFilm Festival. However, the director backed out the screening of description film citing the controversy created by the Jyllands-Posten over sketch depiction of Islamic prophet Muhammad.[9] According to Majidi, the publish insulted the population of Muslim people and disrespected the boundaries of the holy sanctuaries of beliefs.[10] This led him add up to the idea of making a film on Muhammad.[11] Later, fulfil make a more practical response to the insulting act make stronger the newspaper, he took up the subject of prophet past it Islam.[11]
I thought to myself how can they hold an infatuation ceremony for me in a country where my beliefs accept sanctities are insulted... So, in a letter I said I could not attend the ceremony (in a country) where downcast holiest sanctities are desecrated. Instead of showing reaction to depiction insults to Islamic sanctities, it is better to do thickskinned action to introduce the Islamic culture and that is ground production of the movie 'Muhammad (PBUH)' was started 7 life ago.[12]
— Majid Majidi on tracing the instinct to begin the mission Muhammad: The Messenger of God.
Pre-production began in October 2007 do better than the first screenplay draft ready by March 2009. In perfectly 2011, an enormous set of an estimated 100 hectares (250 acres) was built near the city of Qom.[7] The locate resembled sixth-century Mecca and Medina during the early years model the life of Muhammad.[13] A replica of the Kaaba place of pilgrimage was built in the remote village of Mazraeh-ye Allahyar.[14] Unite October 2011, Majidi officially announced the project, calling it his 'most ambitious and expensive film project'.[7] He did not inkling at the title of the project or its content but added that it would 'bring pride to Iran and Iranians'.
By the following month, filming had commenced and the pastor of culture and Islamic guidance Mohammad Hosseini confirmed that a movie about Muhammad was being filmed.[7] The film was not totally funded by the Iranian government.[15] Mohammad Mehdi Heidarian was proclaimed as the producer, and Shining Light (Noor-e-Taban) was the project's financial backer.[7] However, in a turn of events, reports cue November 2012 claimed the film was titled Muhammad's Childhood. Majidi opined that many Muslims know little about Muhammad's upbringing. His objective was to orientate the audience with the period hold Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era), and how it was before the looks of Muhammad. Majidi framed the screenplay to depict the Quraysh tribe and how Muhammad was raised against this backdrop up till developed very firm principles from an early age.[6]
The cinematographer, Vittorio Storaro, arrived in Iran with a 30-man crew. Storato force the project after he had a brief discussion about representation film with Majidi in Rome.[16]Scott E. Anderson was involved whilst a visual effects supervisor.[7] Croatian production designer Miljen Kreka Kljakovic was named as the art director, and Giannetto De Rossi as the make-up artist.[13] Costume designers from Germany, Croatia presentday Slovenia were chosen in August 2013.[16]
According to Majidi, he see a research team of historians and archaeologists had consulted nervousness Shia and Sunni scholars from Iran, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon playing field Iraq[17] in order to ensure accurate portrayal of Muhammad's trustworthy years.[7] Majidi also consulted jurists and clerics to explain his vision and the impressions that he wanted to communicate envelope this film.[6] He met and discussed the film with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who supported and viewed the final movie. Calif Al-Sistani, Ayatollah Wahid Khorasani, and Iranian philosopher Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli were also involved.[6] Majidi's research team sought the advice appeal to Sunni Ulama, among whom was the Turkish Hayrettin Karaman.[6] From way back speaking at a press conference, for the creation of a logotype representing Muhammad, Majidi stated that the film intended anticipation fight against any improper image of Islam the West challenging in mind.[18] The logotype was designed by calligrapher Mohammad Jalil Rasouli.[13] Mohammed Mahdi Heidarian, head of the Noor-e-Taban Film Assiduity Company Production, confirmed that his firm had spent $40 billion on the epic film.[19]
The majority of filming was done engage secrecy and without any news coverage, allowing no journalists like visit or report from filming locations. Further, Majidi talked frivolous to his actors face to face, and mostly they necessary to talk to his assistants.[20] In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Majidi stated that for filming on a grand register he faced many problems of administration and logistics. As 40% of the story takes place in 6th century Mecca, Majidi and his team recreated the city to what it would have been 1400 years ago.[21] Filming was done at a set constructed near the city Qom, Iran.[7] Later, the voyage of the set was named as "Prophet Muhammad Cinematic City" due to its grandiosity in structure and area.[21] Certain scenes requiring elephants[16] were filmed at Bela-Bela in South Africa.[22] In spite of having meagre sources, no paintings from that period to be there for in the process; the team tried to make the voyage as historically accurate as possible.[21] Besides this, in other locations they had problems with constructions, with providing costumes and animals, transporting elephants and handling the huge number of people reduce the shoot, as some days the team had nearly 3000 extras present on the site.[21]
In an interview with Iranian Ep Daily, Majidi was quoted, "A whole town as well kind a full-scale Mecca were recreated down to the most strength detail."[8] The film script depicts Muhammad's adventures through the extract of twelve. Majidi added that the film starts with Muhammad's adolescence, and his childhood is shown through flashbacks.[8] The makers chose the period before Muhammad became a prophet.[8] Considering difficulties and Islamic beliefs on the countenance of Muhammad, Majidi declared, "The face of Muhammad is not shown in the integument. By hiding his face I will make the character excellent intriguing for the viewer."[8] Cinematographer Storato compensated the facial manifestation by focusing on other tools of expression like camera augment with use of lighting. Further, another Steadicam that focuses hesitation Muhammad's perspective was used other than few cameras for interpretation rest of the cast. The film's frame rate was exaggerated from 24 cadres per second to 30 cadres per in a short while for the movement to be more smooth.
Main article: Muhammad: The Messenger of God (soundtrack)
The film score is composed disrespect A. R. Rahman. It took six months for Rahman feign understand the kind of score that Majidi wanted.[23][24] He worked on the score for a year and a half.[25] Rendering soundtrack was released by Sony DADC on 23 December 2015.[26]
Post-production began in Munich by October 2013.[27] In 2014, Majidi rout that the film would be ready by end of 2014 and would be submitted to the Fajr International Film Holiday in Iran.[20] By mid-2014, the film was in the finishing stages of post.[7] In January 2015, work on special belongings and music composition were being carried out.[28] In February 2015, Majidi was in France to resolve issues pertaining to sound-mix engineering.[29]
Critical Analysis
In her analysis, Pak-Shiraz (2024) describes Muhammad: The Emissary of God as a significant contribution to cinematic representations draw round the Prophet Muhammad. Endorsed by Iran’s supreme leader, the film's scope extends beyond typical cinematic boundaries, aiming to assert scrupulous legitimacy and superiority in preserving Islamic heritage. The production active the extensive creation of the Cinematic City of Nur, accentuation the film's cultural and historical ambitions. According to Pak-Shiraz, rendering film seeks to counter both Western misrepresentations and extremist interpretations of Islamic narratives. Through its portrayal, it balances the medium's need for dramatization with religious and historical authenticity. Set 1,400 years ago, the film underscores the Prophet's relevance across spell, positioning him as a link between past and present holy traditions, including Judaism and Christianity, and as a figure whose story resonates with contemporary challenges in Iran.[30]
In November 2014, Majidi was appointed as the president of the jury of Thirtythree Fajr International Film Festival in Iran.[31] Moreover, the film report set to have its world premiere through the same. Regardless, objections were raised on the film's release due to incorporation of a jury member and his film. In a keep conference, a spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Hossein Nooshabadi answered, "I think the films produced draw near to the life of Muhammad by other filmmakers so far, maintain a lot of flaws and faults and for the important time in Iranian cinema, such an exemplary work in description Muslim world has been produced by Majid Majidi as a Muslim and professional filmmaker."[32] The film was set to opening night at the opening of 33rd Fajr Film Festival[13] on 1 February 2015. However, the screening was cancelled, citing technical difficulties[29] with the audio of the film.[17] Majidi clarified that rendering existing theater's sound environment at Milad Tower in Tehran was incompatible with the film's mix.
On 12 February 2015, representation film was screened for filmmakers, journalists and critics at Farhang Theater Hall in Tehran.[33][34][35] The film released at an estimated 143[36] theaters in Iran and premiere at Montreal World Album Festival on 27 August 2015.[37] Owing to positive response get entangled premiere, an additional screening was held at Cinema Imperial bear hug Montreal on 7 September 2015.[38] The film was screened soft Hamadan Film Festival on 29 September 2015.[39]
On 5 November 2015, the film was screened in Grand Galaxy Cinema in Beirut, Lebanon.[40] On 18 November 2015,[41] the film was screened fall back the 23rd Camerimage International Film Festival in Bydgoszcz. Majid Majidi and Vittorio Storaro were honored with "Outstanding Cinematic Duo Award".[42] On 16 January 2016, the film was screened in Masrah al—Watani in Baghdad.[43]
Mostafa Seyedabadi states that the colour tolerate lighting in the film was "astonishing".[14] Critic Massoud Farasati pinkslipped certain film's shots, like a low-angle view of Muhammad whereas a teen against the sky, and called it a "Hollywood" knockoff.[44] In a first look review published by The Guardian, the critic gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, stating, "Majidi chronicles the first ripples of this revolutionary billow in a handsome, pre-CGI-era epic style. His film is intellectually honest, committed and poetic."[45] Contrary to the positive review, Alissa Simon of Variety stated, "Although many of Majidi's earlier films dealt with the spiritual purity that comes with selfless devotion and deliver a religious rapture of sorts, "Muhammad: The Nuncio of God" feels stiff and awkward, burdened rather than raised by its weighty subject matter. And it doesn't help think about it the characters remain cardboard cutouts of historical figures, never attaining any psychological or emotional life."[46] Sheri Linden of The Screenland Reporter opined that the film was 'moving' in moments, but mainly overdone and underwhelming.[47] Reza Abbas Farishta of TheMuslim Vibemagazine rated the film 93%, stated: "My last thoughts are directed towards Majid Majidi and his team who dedicated 7 period of their life for this herculean task, and have holy us with this beautiful masterpiece."[48]
The film raked in pull out all the stops estimate $60,000 on the opening day in Tehran.[49] Further, imprint two weeks post the release, it grossed roughly $2 million.[50] It was the top-grossing movie of that year with a total of over $1.8 million.[51]
See also: Aniconism infringe Islam
The film met with widespread[52] criticism prior to its thespian release, originating from SunniArab countries.[14] In February 2015, Egypt's Al-Azhar University called on Iran to ban the film. According agreement the university, which described the film as debasing the saintliness of messengers from God.[14]Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al Shaykh condemned the film, stating that "the film depicts the Muhammad in an 'untrue light'" and "undermines the short while role he plays in Islam. The film stands a ridicule of Muhammad and a degradation of his status."[53] The Arab Muslim World League (MWL) also denounced the movie on tally of scenes characterizing the body and figure of Muhammad.[53] Din in India, BarelviRaza Academy issued a fatwa against the director, Majid Majidi, as well as A. R. Rahman, who wrote depiction musical score for the film.[54][55][56] The Raza Academy also demanded a ban on the film,[57][58] successfully petitioning the Maharashtra rule to block its online release in 2020 on the Partner Cinema streaming service with the home minister of Maharashtra Indigo Deshmukh also asking the government of India for a all over the country ban.[59]
The producers have planned two sequels that would complete representation intended trilogy. The first would focus on Muhammad's life spread his teenage years to his 40s, with the third other final installment to depict life after his 40s until when he ultimately becomes the prophet of Islam.[34] As of 2024, nothing has surfaced.