Julia Arsenault (ja_kitty_71) I was curious about this film, after I had watched the trailer online, and I was fortunate to find it on Netflix. I thought it was a visually astounding movie, and I was glad that there was a chance for 2D animation in 2014, when it comes to animated movies.The film's story is about an exiled poet/artist named Mustafa and his relationship with a struggling widow (and his housekeeper) Kamila and her mute daughter Almitra. The film is also about the impact Mustafa's words had on the townspeople, but the town's militant government thinks those words are seditious...stupid!I thought the casting was excellent with Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek and Frank Langella. I don't have any particular scene I like, because I love it from beginning to end. So like I had said this film visually astounding with great animation.

Alison Kamila (Salma Hayek) works cleaning house for Mustafa (Liam Neeson) while worrying about her mute daughter Almitra (Quvenzhane Wallis), who has not spoken since her father died two years ago and who is always stealing and causing problems in the market. Almitra comes to Mustafa's house and on meeting him, finds a gentle soul who speaks to her in poetry without demanding her response; when guard Halim (John Krasinski) is told by the Sergeant (Alfred Molina) that Mustafa is to be freed and taken to a ship that will take him to his own country, Almitra follows them and learns that freedom may not be where Mustafa is being taken at all....This is an animated film, with each segment directed by a different animator, as a result of which it is an absolute feast for the eyes; there's something new and wondrous on the screen practically every minute. The story is really meant to just frame the poetry of the famous author, which is recited by Liam Neeson, who probably has the best voice in the world for such words. The poetry itself, well, that depends on your tolerance for such metaphysical musings; me, I have not much tolerance for it, but even so I thought the film was beautiful to look at, which can be enough in itself for some films.

CAROLE STEPHAN How many times have you read an excellent book and been so disappointed when you watch it as a movie?I was afraid to watch The Prophet. I was so afraid to spoil all the imagination I have had every time I have read The Prophet or even a small part of it from time to time. And The Prophet isn't just an excellent book. For me it is a philosophy of life, a reference, an anchor. So yes, I was really afraid to watch the movie, but I did, because I have to.The colors, the sounds, the settings, the music, the voices, everything about this movie woke up Gibran inside me. It is like he came to life, or maybe I just want to believe that?The movie looks like the paintings and drawings in Gibran's museum in Becharre (Lebanon), it feels like the makers knew Gibran, it feels like they understood him... there is his touch in the movie... or is it just me?The movie is a must, especially if you're a Gibran addict (because you cannot just "like" Gibran Kahlil Gibran).It is an artistic masterpiece, thank you!

msvarnyk I agree with the first reviewer, in that, while I did not like all segments of the film, and some of them I would fast-forward or skip if I could, but in totality it was a very touching, inspiring and beautiful experience. I did love the section on work and did appreciate the artist being there at the screening and sharing how it was done. Also the section on love, and one or two others. I did quite enjoy how the main story was composed (and changed from the book's story) and animated.I think though that one of the main treasures of this film is precisely the difference in animation styles of each segment, which managed to bring together the difference and multiplicity, but at the same time to cross-reference to each other and weave in the images/symbolism from other segments of the book.So while I did not like the style and manner of some of the segments, I do appreciate them being there for the purpose of incorporating difference and multitude.I rarely go to see the film in the theatre twice, never mind at the festival prices, but I'm going to see it again within a week from the first time - to enjoy those parts that I did like, and also to pick up on the things I might have missed the first time around.Unlike the previous reviewer, I actually do believe it will be quite popular in North America once it comes out, if not for any other reason, then because many people could find a favorite section or two in it, even if they don't like the rest of it, it is sort of like a treasure box, which you could open to enjoy those couple pieces meaningful to you at that particular time.