Review by Neil Davey
Stars Chems-Eddine Zinoune, Hassam Ghancy,
Nabil Elouahabi. Nadim Sawalha
Narrated by Sir Ben Kingsley
Written by Carl Knutson, Bruce Neibaur, Tahir Shah
Certification UK U
Runtime 45 minutes
Directed by Bruce Neibaur
Shot in eye-popping IMAX, Journey To Mecca should have been a phenomenal travelogue. Or a straightforward historical documentary that explains the significance of Mecca, the whys and wherefores, to those of us who know of it only as a holy city but don't understand the background. Either of those formats would be preferable to the laughable docu-drama that unfolds instead.
The makers have been given the rare privilege of being allowed to film around and above Mecca. It's a unique opportunity to show the rest of the world what things are like and, when the film focuses on these scenes, it's dazzling. Undulating sands may sound like the most boring thing imaginable but on this screen, it's breathtaking. The movement of the worshipping masses is fascinating, the scenery spectacular - so why keep cutting to an appallingly acted adaptation of Ibn Battuta (Zinoune), and his first pilgrimage from Tangier to Mecca in 1325? It might be a fascinating story, Battuta might have become the "the greatest explorer of the Old World" as the film-makers have it, but there's no sense of that here.
Apparently his perilous journey to Mecca "resonates with adventure while presenting an unforgettable picture of Islamic civilization during the 14th century." It really doesn't and I wish it did. This mish-mash of styles is neither one thing or another, and the whole thing suffers as a result. It's bookended with the contemporary footage, so I'd suggest going to see that because it's stunning, and slipping down to the concession stand for the middle section, because it's tedious. A great opportunity and one that's been completely wasted.