Majid Majidi

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.

Here in this Persian replica of Mecca, built at the cost of millions of dollars, an Iranian film company is attempting to offer the world a literal glimpse of the Prophet Muhammad despite traditional taboos against it.