Je voudrais aujourd'hui vous présenter un film du réalisateur, scénariste et producteur égyptien Youssef Chahine, qui est sorti en 1997 mais que je n'ai découvert que récemment : le Destin (ال مصير). Ce film raconte certains éléments de la vie du grand savant et philosophe islamique Averroes, né en Andalousie en 1126 (Empire Almoravide) et mort dans l'actuel Maroc en 1198 (Empire Almohade), en particulier à partir de 1188-1189 où il doit se défendre face à des accusations d'hérésie et des troubles politiques visant son protecteur, le Calife Al Mansur. Ce dernier, qui se trouve aux prises avec des rebelles et peine à assurer son pouvoir sur certaines parties de l'empire, s'est en effet dangereusement rapproché des oulémas les plus radicaux qui font pression sur lui pour contrer l'influence d'Averroes. Après que sur ordre du Calife aient été interdits la philosophie, les livres, la vente de vin et les métiers de chanteur et de musicien, Averroes sera chassé avec toute sa famille et ses livres seront brûlés en public. Peu de temps avant sa mort, il recevra le pardon du Calife sans pour autant que celui-ci ne le rétablisse dans ses anciennes fonctions.
Today, I'd like to present you a excellent film by the Aegyptian producer and scenarist Youssef Chahine, released in 1997 but which I only discovered recently: Destiny (ال مصير). The film narrates some episodes of the life of the great Islamic thinker and savant Averroes, who was born in Andalusia in 1126 (Almoravid Empire) and died in today's Morocco in 1198 (Almohade Empire), especially starting from 1188-1189 when he had to defend himself against accusations of heresy and consequences of political troubles aimed at his patron, Caliph Al Mansur. The Caliph was indeed struggling with rebels and has difficulties to secure his power in certain parts of the empire, so he went closer to several ulemas whose influence strongly impacted on him; as a result, he abandonment Averroes and forbid philosophy, books, wine trade and the musician and singer professions. Averroes was sent to exile with all his family and his books were burned publicly. Not long before he died, he received the Caliph's forgiveness but wasn't reinstated in his old position.
Ce film m'a beaucoup touchée à la fois par sa poésie et par l'évocation d'un passé extrêmement riche culturellement, mais aussi à cause de sa réflexion en filigrane sur l'intégrisme religieux, problématique toujours d'actualité. Youssef Chahine montre que déjà à l'époque d'Averroes il y avait un combat entre les partisans d'une vision ouverte et raisonnée de l'Islam et les partisans d'une vision dogmatique et fermée de la religion, plus attachés aux pratiques rituelles et sociales qu'à la pureté des intentions et du cœur. Hélas il semblerait que nous n'ayons guère évolué depuis le XIIe siècle.
I really was deeply touched by the poetry of the film and by the evocation of a rich cultural past, but also because of the implicit reflection on religious fundamentalism, which is still present today. Youssef Chahine shows that already in the 12th century there was an opposition between the tenants of an open and reasoned vision of Islam and the tenants of a dogmatic and narrow-minded vision fo religion, more centered on rituals than on intentions and purity of the heart. Alas looking at today's struggles it seems nothing has changed.
Vous pouvez regarder Al Massir sur youtube ici (en version française).
Today, I'd like to present you a excellent film by the Aegyptian producer and scenarist Youssef Chahine, released in 1997 but which I only discovered recently: Destiny (ال مصير). The film narrates some episodes of the life of the great Islamic thinker and savant Averroes, who was born in Andalusia in 1126 (Almoravid Empire) and died in today's Morocco in 1198 (Almohade Empire), especially starting from 1188-1189 when he had to defend himself against accusations of heresy and consequences of political troubles aimed at his patron, Caliph Al Mansur. The Caliph was indeed struggling with rebels and has difficulties to secure his power in certain parts of the empire, so he went closer to several ulemas whose influence strongly impacted on him; as a result, he abandonment Averroes and forbid philosophy, books, wine trade and the musician and singer professions. Averroes was sent to exile with all his family and his books were burned publicly. Not long before he died, he received the Caliph's forgiveness but wasn't reinstated in his old position.
Ce film m'a beaucoup touchée à la fois par sa poésie et par l'évocation d'un passé extrêmement riche culturellement, mais aussi à cause de sa réflexion en filigrane sur l'intégrisme religieux, problématique toujours d'actualité. Youssef Chahine montre que déjà à l'époque d'Averroes il y avait un combat entre les partisans d'une vision ouverte et raisonnée de l'Islam et les partisans d'une vision dogmatique et fermée de la religion, plus attachés aux pratiques rituelles et sociales qu'à la pureté des intentions et du cœur. Hélas il semblerait que nous n'ayons guère évolué depuis le XIIe siècle.
I really was deeply touched by the poetry of the film and by the evocation of a rich cultural past, but also because of the implicit reflection on religious fundamentalism, which is still present today. Youssef Chahine shows that already in the 12th century there was an opposition between the tenants of an open and reasoned vision of Islam and the tenants of a dogmatic and narrow-minded vision fo religion, more centered on rituals than on intentions and purity of the heart. Alas looking at today's struggles it seems nothing has changed.
Vous pouvez regarder Al Massir sur youtube ici (en version française).
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