Iran premieres big-budget epic film ‘Muhammad’ By Ali Noorani

Iran’s most expensive movie, “Muhammad“, which chronicles the childhood of the Muslim prophet, opened nationwide winning praise from early audiences.

Directed by Majid Majidi, the 171-minute, visually stunning film cost around $40 million (S$57million), partly funded by the state, and took more than seven years to complete.

Majidi says the aim of his work, the first part of a trilogy, is to reclaim the rightful image of Islam, which he said extremists have distorted.

“Unfortunately at this time the impression of Islam is of a radical, fanatical and violent religion, which is not what it’s about,” he said in Montreal, where “Muhammad” had its international premiere, hours after screening back home.