Movie Review: The Message

As part of my ongoing study of Islam, I was loaned a copy of "The Message". I started it 2 months ago, and got back to finish it yesterday. It's not a typical film, so I'll start with some context for how the film was made.

The film's genesis was to make a movie in English about the prophet Muhammad (hat tip to Wikipedia). Islam, however, forbids visual and audio depictions of Muhammad or his immediate family. So you never see his face or hear his voice. The film had many muslims as advisors to ensure its accuracy. The film's initial Hollywood backers dropped out, and the film ended financed by Muamman al-Quadafi. Yes, that one. The film's release sparked protests, and even a huge hostage crisis in the US.

On to the film: it was released in 1976. Anthony Quinn plays Muhammad's uncle Hamza. The acting style is definitely melodramatic, so don't expect a "Shadowlands" kind of subtlety in the acting. The script is also stunted in the same way. It's too bad, really, that such a great story was taken over the top this way. So if you're looking for entertainment, I'd not recommend this movie.

The movie, however, is wonderful as a cultural and religious education. For starters, it is the only movie about Muhammad that Muslims are allowed to watch. That's quite an accomplishment in and of itself. It was filmed in Libya and Morocco, also important to give it authenticity. The film depicts very clearly the torture and execution of the early Muslims. Not too bloody, and the camera turns away as the spear goes into the victim's chest. But you hear it, and this stuff happened. Somebody actually died that way for their faith.

We learn that Islam's call that everyone be equal upset the social order: no more slaves, no more peasants. That Islam's requirement that all Muslims be brothers upset the tribal system of distributing justice. The guys in charge were very happy to stay that way, thank you very much. The idea that common people should learn to read aligned all of Mecca's powerful people against the Muslims, and very nearly stamped it out. We also learn that even at its beginnings, Islam was a religion of peace, the same as it is today.

It's not a popcorn movie - I'd consider it a real-time documentary of Islam's beginnings. It should be required viewing for all US voters, though. The value of some measure of understanding on Confucian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim ways of thinking is invaluable. In this time in world history, we all owe it to each other to try to understand the world at large. The steps we take today and in the next 15 years will echo for the next century. Let's not waste it.