Chronicling the life & times of the founder of Islam, The Message is crafted in accordance with the religious beliefs & sensibilities when it comes to the depiction of the prophet who is neither seen nor heard but the story as a whole also serves as an informative historical account of the depicted era. A welcome introduction to the early history of Islamic faith, this 3½ hour religious epic is better than its English-language version.
Directed by Moustapha Akkad, the story covers how the religion originated, the persecution & exodus that followed and the final victory that paved way for Islam's future while establishing Mecca as the hub of the Muslim world. The film touches on the core teachings of Islam which isn't much different from other creeds. For an epic, it has the scope & scale but not the visual eye or cinematic flourish to realise it or make it appealing.
Despite being 30 mins longer than its English counterpart, the picture fares better in almost all aspects. It has better narrative flow, better pacing, plus the Arabic language lends authenticity of its own to the depicted setting, culture & lifestyle. Even the actors fit their roles better in this one. However, the issues I had with the other version are more or less present here too and the simplicity with which conflicts are resolved are at times facepalm-inducing.
Overall, The Message offers an easy enough understanding of Islam to acquaint everyone with its values & teachings but its simple-minded approach won't satisfy all. Still, for what it's worth, the film succeeds in bestowing the outside cultures an essential insight into the Islamic world & its origins, the guiding principles it operates on, and the legacy it has left behind in the modern world as evident in the closing moments. In short, an illuminating epic that's worth a shot.
