The Message Project

This video edits together of two versions of the epic film « The Message » made in the 1970s by Mustapha Akkad which relates the history of Islam. These two versions followed the same script, used the same sets and costumes. The only difference is to be found in the actors and the languages they speak. One film cast stars of Arab cinema while the other used Hollywood actors. Synthesising these two films in a single edit that follows the script’s structure, I created a dialogue between the Arab and American actors. Referring to cinema’s universalism, and language, this video reveals the categorisation of cultural products depending on their target audience.