The Message
(1975)
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Moustapha Akkad's THE MESSAGE tells of the beginnings of the Muslim religion. A compelling drama about an ancient and venerable culture, the epic film stars Anthony Quinn as the uncle of the prophet Mohammed. |
Also known as Mohammed, Messenger of God, this three-hour epic re-creates the feudal life and times of the seventh-century leader of the religious movement that became known as Islam. Whatever sense of drama director Moustapha Akkad might have intended to create is undercut by the decision — as with early films of Christ — not to show the prophet himself, but instead have Anthony Quinn, as his uncle Hamza, an honoured warrior, take centre stage. Nonetheless the film caused an uproar among the faithful for daring to tell the tale at all. Non-believers may well find it sprawling and reverentially tedious.