Saudi Cinema: Some Young Passion, but no Theatre…………..
“It may be low-end and no-budget, but there is no lack of passion in the work of al Mutairi, one of a growing crop of talented and determined young Saudi film-makers. “I don’t expect any money from this film, I just need to show it to an audience… That’s the energy, the audience,” al Mutairi, 29, said of his latest production. “As an artist, you have to be passionate to continue working in this very difficult business. This is a land with no cinemas, which are regarded as places of possible sin by the kingdom’s influential religious establishment. In the clerics’ austere version of Islam, these dark confines might allow boys and girls to mix, which is illegal. Films themselves are considered “evil” because they distract people from religion and spread “corruption”, which usually means something to do with sex……”
I believe Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world without cinema theatres. Afghanistan used to ban them also, under the Taliban. Maybe parts of Somalia as well.
Cheers
mhg
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