Al-risâlah (1976)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Moustapha Akkad

Writers:

H.A.L. Craig (writer)
Tewfik El-Hakim (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Prophet | Religion | First Person Camera | Islam | Independent Film

Cast

Mouna Wasef	...	Hind
Michael Ansara	...	Bu Sofyan
Ali Achmed Taram	...	Bilal
Michael Forest	...	Khalid
Mahmoud Said
Damien Thomas	...	Zaid
Garrick Hagon	...	Ammar
Ronald Chenery	...	Mosaab
Michael Godfrey	...	Barra
Peter Madden	...	Toothless Man
Habib Ageli	...	Hudayfa
George Camiller	...	Waleed
Neville Jason	...	Jaafar
Martin Benson	...	Bu Jahal
Bruno Barnabe	...	Umaya

Runtime:

170 min

Country:

Libya

Language:

Arabic | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1989) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Libya

Company:

Filmco International Productions

Trivia:

Although broadly sharing the same film unit (director, editor, etc.), Two different versions of the film (one in English and the other in Arabic), were shot simultaneously, scene by scene. Two completely different sets of actors shared the same set; once a scene had been established, one actor would play a character in one language, and then the whole scene reshot with his corresponding number speaking in the other language. The main (English) version was released as "The Message", while the Arabic version became "Al-Risalah".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of an Epic: Mohammad Messenger of God (1976) (TV)

Magnificent movie

The movie is directed by Mustapha Akkad one of the pioneering Arabic directors, and to me that is enough. The story of Islam put in its best form on motion picture. I recommend this movie to every one of all ages; especially people that would like to know or get a better understanding of haw the religion of Islam started.