RIYADH – After a 42-year ban, Anthony Quinn-starrer *The Message* has beenapproved by censors in the Middle East.
The 4K restored edition of the controversial 1975 film, done by directorMustafa Akkad’s son Malek, chronicles the life and times of the ProphetMuhammad (PBUH) and is set to become the first Arabic title to get atheatrical release in Saudi Arabia, according to *The Hollywood Reporter*link>.
The historical epic was initially banned in Arab territories, facingopposition from authorities and forcing the crew to move to Morocco andrecreate models of Makkah and Madina.
During its release, *The Message* also faced heavy backlash and banning inmost Middle Eastern territories.
“I have letters of [my father’s] saying, ‘I will never stop. I believe inthis.’ It’s really amazing to think that somewhere, he found that strengthto know he was right, and know that he was going to show everybody, ‘I cando this.’ It’s beautiful,” said *Gulf News* reported 9-year-old Malek assaying.
“His intentions were so pure and noble. He said, ‘I want to show the worldwhy this is the basis of our culture.’ Like in the West, we have theJudeo-Christian culture [and] we have Christmas, and we don’t even thinkabout it. He wanted to show in the Muslim world, this is why we have Eidand Ramadan,” said Malek.
In the US, the film’s theatrical release was suspended after a group stageda siege in Washington DC, mistakenly believing that Quinn played the roleof Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
But the newly restored version, which received its world premiere at theDubai International Film Festival, is now due to travel across the regionin time for the Eid holidays on Thursday.
*The Message*, about the birth of Islam, also marks Front Row’s firsttheatrical release in the newly-opened Saudi cinema market.
“The Saudi authorities allowed the film to pass and this, in turn, openedthe door to the rest of the region. In the burgeoning landscape of theSaudi cinema market, *The Message* release could be its most importantfilm,” Front Row managing director Gianluca Chakra said.
*The Message* also releases in the UAE on June 14.