Accessibility links

Breaking News

Salma Hayek: Animation Key for 'Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet'


Salma Hayek poses during the Los Angeles screening of "Khalil Gibran's The Prophet" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Bing Theater in Los Angeles, July 29, 2015.
Salma Hayek poses during the Los Angeles screening of "Khalil Gibran's The Prophet" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Bing Theater in Los Angeles, July 29, 2015.

Salma Hayek's feature film "Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet" opens in U.S. cinemas next month, and the actress and co-producer says that animation was key in adapting the 1923 book for the screen.

The movie, which draws on the Lebanese writer's poetic essays, tells the story of a headstrong girl, Almitra, who makes friends with poet Mustafa — in jail for his work, which has been deemed dangerous.

Hayek, who also provides the voice for Almitra's mother, Kamila, told Reuters the story was best told through animation.

"You can express more in a sensation through the art and the music and the poetry," she said at the film's premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

"The movie is about freedom, and animation gave us the freedom to be more faithful to the theme of the film," she said.

Academy Award nominees Liam Neeson and Quvenzhane Wallis provide the voices of Mustafa and Almitra in the film.

Hayek, whose grandfather was Lebanese, traveled to Gibran's birthplace, Bcharre village, in April to pay tribute.

"It is such an iconic book," she said. "It has sold more than 120 million copies around the world. It is so beloved, so it was important to get it right."

"Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet" opens in New York and Los Angeles on Aug. 7. A wider U.S. release is set for later in the month.

  • 16x9 Image

    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

XS
SM
MD
LG