For more information, visit http://muhammadfilm.tv .
For PBS (Public Broadcasting Systems) informational resources on Prophet Muhammad, click here.
New Movie about Islamic Art debuts for 2012
March 26, 2012 By 2 Comments
A new documentary entitled Islamic Art, Mirror of the Invisible World will be broadcast at a date to be decided later this year on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service).
Islamic Art, Mirror of the Invisible World is the latest in a line of quality films such as Muhammad, Legacy of a Prophet and Prince Among Slaves produced by Unity Productions Foundation (UPF). According to the UPF website, the documentary “ takes audiences on an epic journey across nine countries and over 1,400 years of history. It explores themes such as the Word, Space, Ornament, Color and Water and presents the stories behind many great masterworks of Islamic Art and Architecture.”
Unity Productions Foundation film company is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 by Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe with the objective of creating “peace through the media.” Kronemer and Michael Wolfe produced the film with Rob Gardner as producer. It features Academy-Award winner Susan Sarandon as the narrator who guides the viewer on a journey towards understanding Islamic art, its origins, inspirations, legacy and transcendental qualities.
Film Image from Islamic Art, Mirror of the Invisible World. Photo Credit: Gardner Films
The viewing experience attempted to be provided to the audience, according to Kronemer, is one which gives justice to ”the whole breadth and depth of Islamic civilization.” As Kronemer stated in an earlier interview, ”When you take such an approach, you’re kind of reminded that the conflicts and the tensions that consume a particular time or place in history tend to be forgotten, and what remains, what endures, are the cultural productions.”
The documentary attempts to give greater awareness of the cultural contributions of an Islamic society whose image has been muddied in the West. According to Kronemer, ”Islam has become a caricature. It is a caricature of [ticked-off] people who are just angry at the West and that’s it, that’s all we need to know. But there are many different colored threads in the tapestry of Islamic identity, which Kronemer believes the film will show: “Besides the fact that there’s so much contemporary evidence to the contrary, the Islamic world is so large and so diverse, and I think that this film really shows the sensitivity and the sensuality that is a very big part of the Islamic story and serves in some ways to rebut the caricatures.”
You can see when Islamic Art, Mirror of the Invisible World will be showing by visiting the UPF website at http://www.islamicart.tv .
Liam Neeson Finds the Call to Prayer to be “The Most Beautiful, Beautiful Thing”
January 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
While filming Taken 2, Liam Neeson reportedly became interested in Islam.
According to Neeson, who spent time filming in Istanbul:
“The Call to Prayer happens five times a day and for the first week it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit and it’s the most beautiful, beautiful thing”
He is also reported to have said:
“There are 4,000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim.”
Neeson, who was raised Catholic and named after a local priest in Northern Ireland, has always delved deeply into matters of faith. Said Neeson:
“I was reared a Catholic, but I think every day we ask ourselves, not consciously, what are we doing on this planet? What’s it all about?” he has said. “I’m constantly reading books on God or the absence of God and atheism.”
According to UK’s Daily Mail, Neeson had caused a stir by claiming in 2010 that the lion character, Aslan, of C.S. Lewis’ story Chronicles of Narnia, was based on all spiritual leaders – including Muhammad.
Liam Neeson has starred in many movies including Star Wars: Episode I – The Phanton Menace, Michael Collins, Schindler’s List, Batman Begins, and Taken. His latest film, The Grey, was released January 27, 2011 worldwide and has received a 4 out of 5 star rating on Rotten Tomatoes.com
If Mr. Neeson does accept Islam, he will be in the ranks of other famous celebrities such as Muhammad Ali and Yusuf Islam, who was also intrigued by the sound of azhan while on vacation in Marrakech, Morocco. After being told the azhan was music for God, Islam said:
“I thought, music for God? I’d never heard that before – I’d heard of music for money, music for fame, music for personal power, but music for God!”
Since then, Yusuf Islam has contributed much in the way of religious music, charitable work and educational contributions to society. It appears as if Liam Neeson may be seeking out a similar path.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: Pakistan’s First Oscar Nominee
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Oscar nominated Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Whoever said Pakistanis are only good at dramas and movies like Maula Jatt never met Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Pakistan’s first Oscar nominee for her soon to be released documentary, Saving Face. Obaid-Chinoy, a journalist and documentarian, had previously won an Emmy for her documentary entitled Pakistan: Children of the Taliban. For her journalistic work on life in Muslim countries, Mrs. Obaid-Chinoy also received the Livingston Award.
Saving Face is about the experiences of a British Pakistani plastic surgeon who donates his time to heal acid victims in Pakistan. It is set to be released in March of 2012 while the Oscars are set to be held February 26th.
Obaid-Chinoy working on her Oscar nominated Saving Face.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is also the founder of the Citizens Archive of Pakistan, dedicated to the preservation of Pakistan’s history. She is a featured TED 2010 fellow who asserts that:
“By bringing the voices of the ordinary people faced with extraordinary challenges to television screens around the world, I hope to affect change in one community at a time.”
abakran
Faiz Safdar
Saleem Safdar
