Aug. 27, 2015|Iran|171 Min.|R
Genre: Biography;Drama;History;Reality
Description: Muhammad: The Messenger of God is a 2015 Iranian Islamic epic film directed by Majid Majidi and co-written with Kambuzia Partovi. Set in the sixth century, the film portrays the childhood of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
The story begins with Abraha, the King of Habasha, ordering his army to attack Mecca and destroy the Kaaba. As the well-equipped force of soldiers, horses, and elephants approaches Mecca, the elephants suddenly stop, refusing to move further due to a divine command. Shortly after, millions of small birds appear and shower Abraha’s army with stones, leading to its annihilation. A month later, Muhammad is born. The film explores pre-Islamic Arabia from Muhammad’s perspective, covering his life from birth to the age of 13.
The production of Muhammad: The Messenger of God began in 2007, with Majidi completing the first draft of the screenplay by 2009. By 2011, a massive set was constructed in Qom, near Tehran, for filming. Majidi collaborated with historians and archaeologists to ensure historical accuracy. Post-production took place in Munich from late 2013 to 2014. The film features cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and a score composed by A. R. Rahman.
Initially planned for a premiere at the Fajr International Film Festival on February 1, 2015, the screening was canceled due to technical issues. A special screening was held on February 12, 2015, at Cinema Farhang in Iran. The film was later released in Iran and at the Montreal World Film Festival on August 27, 2015. It was also selected as Iran’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.
Notably, Muhammad: The Messenger of God is the highest-budget production in Iranian cinema history.
Cast director: Majid Majidi
Cast actor: Mehdi Pakdel, Sare Bayat, Mina Sadati, Alireza Shojanoori, Dariush Farhang, Mohsen Tanabande, Rastin Soleimani, Murat Şenol, Ali Ekber Diribaş, Rana Azadivar
Original name: محمد رسولالله