Film Festival

IN THE NAME OF GOD, Shoaib Mansoor - Director / Writer (writer) / Producer
Unrated
August 26, 7:00 pm SLC - Main Library Auditorium 210 E 400 S

The film is about the difficult situation in which the Pakistanis in particular and the Muslims in general are caught up since 9/11. There is a war going on between the Fundamentalists and the Liberal Muslims. This situation is creating a drift not only between the Western world and the Muslims, but also within the Muslims. The educated and modern Muslims are in a difficult situation because of their approach towards life and their western attire. They are criticized and harassed by the fundamentalists and on the other hand the Western world sees them as potential suspects of terrorism just because of their Muslim names. This paradox is resulting in great suffering for a forward looking Muslim. Above mentioned is the theme of the film "KHUDA KE LIYE" which in English means "IN THE NAME OF GOD". The interesting thing about the film is how it connects the happenings in the three continents. Unlike the usual Indian and Pakistani films based on romantic saga, dances and songs, this film is based on some very serious issues, raising a lot of controversial questions boggling the Muslim minds these days.

THE MESSAGE
Free screening
Saturday Aug 25 at 10am at the downtown SLC Library Auditorium
followed by a lecture by Dr. Alice Rothchild of the Jewish Voice for Peace at 1:30pm.
More about Dr. Rothchild's visit to Salt Lake.

THE MESSAGE

The most complete and almost universally accepted film version of the story of the birth of Islam. Program to be introduced by Ghulam Hasnain

Islamic producer/director Moustapha Akkad made the classic, THE MESSAGE (a.k.a. Mohammed: The Messenger of God) starring Anthony Quinn as a labor of love so that the truth about Islam would finally be told through film. Remaining within the strict teachings of Islam, Akkad finds ways to tell the story of Mohammed without photographing the prophet-founder or any of the central figures of the Faith, like Ali. It works. And, Akkad's project received the approval and blessing of Islamic officials. (The Lebanese film received approval in accuracy and fidelity from the High Islamic Congress of the Shiat in Lebanon and from the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo).

2PM - BAB AL-SAMA MAFTUH / DOOR TO THE SKY - directed by Farida Ben Lyziad - not rated - 107min.

In this Sufi tale, Nadia, a young Moroccan emigre returns from Paris to Fez to visit her dying father. At his funeral, she is overcome by the voice of Karina chanting the Koran. A powerful friendship develops between the two women as they decide to turn the father's palace into a shelter for Muslim women.

4PM - THE LIZARD - directed by Kamal Tabrizi - not rated - 1:55 min.
Released in Iran to a whirlwind of protest, The Lizard had been hugely popular with the public and broken box office records before the government pulled the film under pressure from the influential Islamic clergy. Its appealing comic set up may explain the harsh reaction. Reza (Parvis Parastouie) is a petty thief who escapes jail by posing as a mullah. Staying in disguise longer than he expected, he accidentally becomes the revered leader of a smalltown mosque, bringing people flooding in with his off the cuff sermons that include sexual innuendo and references to US pop culture. The film is a satire but doesn't allow itself to be cynical and Parastoui's performance remains in the comic vein.

THE MESSAGE

The most complete and almost universally accepted film version of the story of the birth of Islam. Program to be introduced by Ghulam Hasnain

Islamic producer/director Moustapha Akkad made the classic, THE MESSAGE (a.k.a. Mohammed: The Messenger of God) starring Anthony Quinn as a labor of love so that the truth about Islam would finally be told through film. Remaining within the strict teachings of Islam, Akkad finds ways to tell the story of Mohammed without photographing the prophet-founder or any of the central figures of the Faith, like Ali. It works. And, Akkad's project received the approval and blessing of Islamic officials. (The Lebanese film received approval in accuracy and fidelity from the High Islamic Congress of the Shiat in Lebanon and from the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo).