Iranian epic 'Muhammad' aims to change image of Islam

A major new film about the childhood of the Prophet Muhammad cost an estimated $40 million and took more than seven years to complete The award-winning director of Iran?s most expensive ever film, ?Muhammad,? says he hopes it will improve Islam?s ?violent image,? but the religious epic risks angering many Muslims despite not showing the prophet?s face.

The huge production about the childhood of the prophet cost an estimated $40 million and took more than seven years to complete.

The 171-minute film, which stars many top Iranian actors, was set to premiere on Aug. 26 in 143 theaters throughout Iran, the day before it opens the Montreal Film Festival.

In an interview with AFP in Tehran, its director Majid Majidi, 56, said extremists and jihadists such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) ?have stolen the name of Islam.?

In the Western world, ?an incorrect interpretation of Islam has emerged that shows a violent image of Islam, and we believe it has no link whatsoever? to the religion, Majidi said.

?Muhammad? is the first part of a trilogy on the life of the prophet. The film depicts events before his birth and up to his teenage years, before he became prophet, which according to the Koran was at the age of 40. 

While Iran has denounced cartoons of the prophet like those published by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Shiite Muslims are generally more relaxed than Sunnis about depictions of religious figures.

While many planned screenings of ?Muhammad? in Shiite-majority Iran have already sold out, in the Sunni Muslim world the production has triggered controversy.

?Definitely, some countries like Saudi Arabia will have problems with this film but many...