KHALEEJ TIMES
Mohamad Kadry
Follow in the footsteps of the famed explorer and immerse yourself in an awe-inspiring film about devotion and willpower
BY TODAY’S STANDARDS, it’s nearly impossible to fathom a journey from Morocco to Mecca (present day Saudi Arabia) taking 18 months by foot, camel and caravan, but Journey to Mecca – an IMAX documentary feature – tells the amazing story of Ibn Battuta, the greatest explorer of the Old World on his quest to the holy city.
Making the film was nothing short of a superhuman effort by directors and producers who trekked through endless cultural, religious and bureaucratic barriers to put homage to the legacy of Ibn Batutta. It took nearly four years for the 45-minute film to make it to the giant IMAX screen.
His perilous journey resonates with adventure while presenting an unforgettable picture of Islamic civilisation during the 14th century, culminating with Ibn Battuta’s first Hajj. The story is book-ended by a close-up look at the contemporary Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca that draws three million Muslims from around the world.
Ibn Battuta set out in 1325 from his native Tangier on an epic journey to Mecca, the historical and cultural centre of Islam. By the time he returned 29 years later, he had travelled the world from West Africa, Spain and India to China and the Maldives, covering some 75,000 miles and three times further than Marco Polo. At the instigation of the Sultan of Morocco, Ibn Battuta dictated his reminiscences, which became one of the world’s most famous travel books, The Rihla.
Journey to Mecca was filmed in Saudi Arabia and Morocco in both English and Arabic. The Hajj, the longest running congregation of humans annually on Earth, was captured in breathtaking sight by IMAX technology in an unprecedented journey for filmmakers who worked tirelessly in Saudi Arabia, a country without movie theatres or a film industry.
The narrative, taken from Ibn Battuta’s personal journals, tells the story of the besieged traveller (played by actor Chems Eddine Zinoun) as he encounters countless obstacles. Along the route he meets an unlikely stranger, the ‘Highwayman’ (played by Hassam Ghancy) who becomes his paid protector and eventual friend.
During his travels he is attacked by bandits, endures dehydration, is rescued by Bedouins, and forced to retrace his route by a war-locked Red Sea. Ibn Battuta finally joins the legendary Damascus Caravan with thousands of pilgrims bound for Mecca for the final leg of what would become his 5,000 mile, 18-month long journey to the holy city. When he arrives in Mecca, he is a man transformed. We then experience the Hajj as he did over 700 years ago, and, in recognition of its timelessness, the film dissolves to the Hajj as it is still performed today by millions of pilgrims, in some of the most extraordinary and moving IMAX footage ever presented.
Journey to Mecca is a film that transcends religion, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the most sacred Muslim shrine on Earth. Done in dazzling detail, the film perfectly captures an important chapter in Arab and Islamic history.
Event details
Journey to Mecca will be playing during the month of Ramadan at the Meydan IMAX with three shows, at 9pm, 10pm and 11pm daily. Tickets, priced Dhs50, are available on the door. Call 800 4629 for details.
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