Director: Roger Allers (main feature, plus nine others)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek, Quvenzhané Wallis
Four stars
Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet is a celebration. It's a celebration of the renowned Lebanese poet's best-loved work, a reflection on life, love, food and death that has been translated into 40 languages and read by millions since its publication in 1923.
It’s also a celebration of the art of animation, with 10 directors called on to add their own distinctive voices to an ensemble piece that uses a range of techniques, from crayon drawings to modern motion capture, to bring Gibran’s messages to the screen.
And it is a celebration of life, freedom and the human spirit – the core values that shine through Gibran’s flowery, philosophical words.
And is The Prophet worth celebrating in this way? Without question.
Translating a slim volume of 26 poems into a feature-length film sounds implausible. However, overseen artfully by writer-director Roger Allers – whose CV includes Disney's Aladdin and The Lion King – this brave undertaking succeeds by devoting large chunks of screen time to quoting Gibran's words verbatim in a series of literary "lessons", linked thematically with a fresh framing plot specially created for the film and not in the poems.
We begin with Mustafa (voiced by Liam Neeson) – the Prophet of the title, shortened from Almustafa – being released after seven years under house arrest. He is granted his freedom on the condition that he be escorted from an unnamed Mediterranean village – a sunny market town where people of different religions mix freely – and board a waiting ship to return to his (also unidentified) home country. He is followed by a mischievous, mute, cute young girl called Almitra, who is in turn pursued by her long-suffering mother, Kamila (voiced by co-producer Salma Hayek).
On the trek from his hilltop retreat, Mustafa encounters reverential villagers seeking his advice, which sparks the nine themed extracts from Gibran’s work, each illustrated by a guest director.
Two of them feature the poet's words put to music, with tasteful compositions by Damien Rice (On Children) and a duet by Lisa Hannigan and Glen Hansard (On Love).
If this all sounds teeth-clenchingly twee, the quality and invention of not only Gibran's words, but also the animators' work make this worth seeing. Standouts include veteran cartoonist Bill Plympton's humorous, hand-drawn segment (On Eating & Drinking), Michal Socha's animated birds (On Freedom), and Emirati director Mohammed Saeed Harib's beautiful, naturalistic watercolour animation (On Good & Evil), which includes nods to Arabic calligraphy.
Yet it’s the contrast and variety of seeing each of these pieces together that makes one appreciate the craft more.
It is perhaps inevitable that some will find the structure frustrating and the messages overwrought and preachy. In many ways, your enjoyment of the film will depend on your feelings about the prospect of listening to Neeson prophesying airy platitudes – for example: “For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst”; “Work is love made visible”; and “Your children are not your children / They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself” – on top of arty animation.
But allow yourself to be swept along with it, don't dig too deep and you will find that it is a genuinely effective combination of words, pictures and music – an inventive fusion of mediums that in no way definitively captures the essence of The Prophet, but offers a fitting tribute for fans, a light introduction to the curious and an entertaining, engaging evening to everyone else.
rgarratt@thenational.ae
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Honeymoonish
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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How to help
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ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now