Majid Majidi’s film Mohammad was finally screened in the last days of the Fajr Festival, a change from earlier plans to open the festival with it. The film, with a $100-million budget, is the most expensive in the history of Iranian cinema.
The Fars News Agency reports that Mohammad was screened on February 9 for a number of Islamic Republic cultural officials, including Culture and Guidance Minister Ali Jannati, along with representatives from the Foreign Ministry and the president’s office as well as a number of clergy from seminaries.
The culture minister lauded the film and expressed hope that the filmmaker will receive the necessary budget to make the next two parts.
The film depicts the life of the Muslim prophet up to age 12 and large segments of it are shot on location in Mecca.
Saudi Arabia and Salafists have denounced the idea of a film about the life of the prophet and have called on Iran not to screen it.
Qatar is also reportedly making a film about the life of the Prophet Mohammad.
