Al-massir

Ocidentals tend to see other cultures as exotic and bizarre. This is a lesson about Europe and Muslims, about Mourish culture in Iberia and about religious extremism and freedom of thinking. I loved it. My country would be much more poor if it had not been included in Mourish Iberia in a time when christians were in the dark age. The music is fabulous. I'm very curious about other works from Youssef Chahine but unfortunally i don't believe they will ever be in Portuguese cinemas.

I saw the film a couple of years ago. I thought it was a very good film. It dealt with terrorism, its origination and its effects on the youth and society of 12th century Arabia, which forms a present and alive problem in modern Arabia.

The film had a great deal of technique and style. Although the film is set in the past, the language of the script is in colloquial Arabic, which is spoken on the streets of Egypt at this point in time. Making delivering the content of the words more important than giving the audience a believable setting. Aside from being a historical representation it was a philosophical thought on religion, society and politics. Some of the obvious themes in the film were as follows. The freedom of thought expressed in the power of the written and spoken word as a form of representation of the people, what they stand for, and their sufferings. In addition to the self and social destruction caused by ones political motivation hidden behind a religious façade.

Finally the film brings great memory of Francois Truffaut's –`Fahrenheit 451'-. In making the point that one can burn all the books in the world, but that would never take what is in the books away from the people, because true words, weather written or memorized, are humanities memory and being till the end of time. Both films complement each other, one can darlingly view, `Al-Massir' as the beginning of a time that was elaborately explored in `Fahrenheit 451.' Both films had the same ending, in which the books were burnt and the words were kept in the memory of the people, independent of what the present political power did. The words of scholars, philosophers and story tellers live forever.

A film which will probably find many emphatic spectators due to its many facettes: * You might like historic films - this one shows you live of Andalusia in the 12th century with rich costumes and great islamic buildings; * you might prefer deep content - this film offers insight in the philosophy of the great muslem thinker Averroes (Ibn-Rushed) and the question why people get seducted by sects; * you might be interested in action, love and happy-end - this film offers as a story the conspiracy against the caliph, and happily ends with two couples that found each other (though very sensitively shown, compared to occidental films); * you might generally be interested how other cultures do films - this is a great example of oriental (Egyptian) cinema, which is close enough to be understood be occidental people; * you might like to follow personal development of the characters shown in the film - this one gives you insight in the development of the caliph's two sons: from "take all easy" to "use your own head to think". *** This film can be highly recommended !!! ***

This film is an entertaining and thrilling mix of melodrama, music, history, grief and joy, showing the best and worst sides of human nature.

The story is set in medieval Moorish Spain, about the conflict between Averroes; a historical humanistic Muslim philosopher; and a group of reactionary fundamentalists. It is very well acted and the characters are sympathetic as well as credible. Often forgotten is that many of the Islamic societies of the Early Middle Ages (particularly in Spain) were ahead of Europe in science, mathematics, medicine, religious tolerance and many intellectual pursuits. But, there were periodic and sometimes serious conflicts with those who resented these trends.

This is not just an historical epic. The Egyptian director, a very courageous man named Youssef Chanine, deliberately molded the script to show how fanaticism undermines not only a society's intellect, but destroys it's soul. Particularly disturbing, but highly relevant to our times, is showing the subtle manner in which young men are recruited into these movements and about how empty and dishonest they turn out to be.

Although the population of medieval Andalusia was 10-15% Jewish and Averroes had extensive contact with both Jewish and Christian intellectuals, there isn't a Jew in sight and the only Christians are depicted as evil, fanatical, external enemies who enter into a secret pact with the fundamentalist cult. While this is not entirely accurate and a gross simplification of the actual situation at the time, I don't fault Mr. Chanine. He has endured extreme legal harassment in the Egyptian courts over this and another film as well as extensive death threats against himself and his family. Merely exploring the themes portrayed in this movie has put his head on the chopping block, and any sympathetic depiction of Jews or Christians would have resulted in the banning of the film and possibly his head rolling into the basket. He deliberately crafted this film to educate his own society about the debasement and moral corruption wrought by cultism and violence, and, no doubt, wanted to make sure the message got out.

A bold, and gently provocative film by a very brave man.

Egyptian director Youssef Chahine biopic of Arab philosopher Averroes (who lived in Andalusia during the 1100s) is surprisingly compelling, with fine production values, including a lavish color cinematography (this was a co production with France that won awards at the Cannes film festival in 1997). Averroes (played by Nour el Sheriff) is seen in the movie, avant la lettre, as a wise champion of rationality and against fundamentalism. Aside having to fight the intrigue of fundamentalists, he has to do some optical experiments and also has to deal with family problems, a misguided caliph, and Christian troops eager to attack Andalusia. The movie also includes ridiculous but charming musical interludes reminiscent of Indian movies.