LEBANON-FILM/HAYEK Hollywood's Hayek explores Lebanese roots with the film The Prophet

Record ID: 156991

  • Title: LEBANON-FILM/HAYEK Hollywood's Hayek explores Lebanese roots with the film The Prophet
  • Date: 28th April 2015
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (APRIL 27, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ACTRESS SALMA HAYEK ARRIVING AT THE EVENT HAYEK ARRIVING ON THE RED CARPET HAYEK SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS ON THE RED CARPET MORE OF HAYEK ON THE RED CARPET PEOPLE WALKING PAST FANS ON THE RED CARPET VARIOUS OF HAYEK WAVING JOURNALISTS BY THE SIDE OF THE RED CARPET HAYEK POSING WITH HER FATHER, SAMI HAYEK DOMINGUEZ, ON THE RED CARPET JOURNALISTS AND WELLWISHERS SURROUNDING HAYEK PREMIER ATTENDEES POSING FOR PHOTOS ON THE WALL OF FAME PEOPLE ON THE RED CARPET
  • Embargoed: 13th May 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2YJYPJAHDU3W6K48C6YRWANMX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Mexican actress Salma Hayek launched in Beirut on Monday (April 27) the global premier of her new film ''The Prophet'', an animated movie which draws on the 1923 book by Lebanese-born writer Kahlil Gibran.
    The premier was launched in the presence of the film's writer and director Roger Allers, among other local and international celebrities.
    Hayek walked the red carpet of the premier event wearing a dress by Lebanese designer Elie Saab and Pomellato jewelry. Her makeup and hair styling were signed Bassam Fattouh and Victor Keyrouz.
    Hayek said her new film The Prophet was a labour of love that helped her explore her relationship with her late Lebanese grandfather who adored the book that inspired it.
    The animated film tells the story of Almitra, a headstrong girl who forms a friendship with the imprisoned poet Mustafa, voiced by actor Liam Neeson.
    Hayek co-produced the film and does the voice over for Almitra's mother, Kamila. The story explores the themes of love and spirituality.
    Hayek told reporters in Beirut that through this book, she got to know her grandfather and have him teaching her about life.
    Hayek and her father, Sami Hayek Dominguez, visited her grandfather's village Baabdat, in what she described as an emotional journey.
    "My father today went to the house of my grandfather and laid down in his bedroom, and we have been crying everyday, we went to our village. It is just been.. I can not tell you how emotional, and maybe that's why... I am so exhausted. Between all the connections of our ancestors and the memories of the ones that are no longer with us, I hope they are proud of this film because I did it also for them," she said.
    Hayek also visited Gibran's birthplace, Bcharre village, on Sunday (April 26) to pay tribute to the writer and his book, a series of poetic essays written in English which has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.
    She said she hoped the film, which she wants it to be accessible to children, would give a global audience a taste of literature from a Middle Eastern author.
    "It takes me a long time to produce because I choose projects that no body wants to do and that everybody thinks no body wants. So it takes me eight years, six years, four years, you know, that's why I don't do a lot, but what I do, I do with my heart and with conviction, and so far we have done so well, and hope the people can appreciate this movie," Hayek told Reuters during an interview on the red carpet ahead of a charity gala dinner on Monday evening after the premier event.
    In the film, written and directed by Lion King director Roger Allers, Mustafa is locked away for his poetry which is deemed dangerous and rebellious.
    He explains to Almitra how he escapes his imprisonment through his mind. 'My words are my wings,' he says.
    Mustafa is voiced by Liam Neeson, who was easily drawn to the small-budget film, Hayek said. Hayek added that Neeson loves the book and he knew the poems by heart.
    Allers spoke about his experience as a director during the film's production process.
    "The experience was very unusual because I worked with artists around the world, and much of the movie was made over Skype with people I almost never met, so it was a very different way of working for me, but very exciting because I got to be connected with such talented people around the world. And then to bring it to Lebanon, to bring it back to Gebran's home is really thrilling," said Allers during an interview with Reuters.
    The movie is a joint production by Lebanon, Qatar, USA and France.
    Allers explained why it was useful to base the film on animation.
    "Well, I think, really the idea was is that we are doing poetry, it is philosophical poetry, and rather than using live actors and live action, if we used art work, it would also raise it up into a level of poetry itself, that the visuals would be poetic as well, and also we were striving for a sense of timelessness," said Allers.
    The musical score of The Prophet is composed by Gabriel Yared and Glen Hansard.
    Sami Hayek Dominguez, father of Salma Hayek, accompanied his daughter in her trip to Lebanon, joining her for the premier and the charity gala dinner.
    "I've already seen this presentation in other places, but today the organisation has been extraordinary. It's very fulfilling to see how the Lebanese people got involved. By "people" I mean "authentic people". They have shown support towards a work that has been made with a lot of love and dedication," he said.
    Hayek says she was personally inspired by Gibran's mother who shares the name of her character Kamila. After an unhappy marriage Kamila moved to the United States and worked selling cloth to provide for her four children.
    Among the guests in the premier was Lebanese talk-show host Marcel Ghanem.
    "I think it is a national duty to watch this movie, because it is itself a sign of trust, hope, peace and love," Ghanem told Reuters.
    The Prophet movie is set to go out in theaters in Lebanon on April 30 and in the Gulf Countries on May 07.
    The United States release of the film is planned for August 2015.
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