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12 December 2008
Shotlist Ref: RTV3544608
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia lifts 30 year ban on cinemas
Story:
Two cinemas welcome the screening of Saudi movie "Menahi" as movie ban lifted in the kingdom.
After a 30 year wait, Saudi Arabia can finally go to the movies again.
Moviegoers made their way to two cinemas on Tuesday (December 9) to see "Menahi".
Financed and produced by Saudi Prince Waleed bin Talal's Rotana, Menahi" is the first film to be released for public viewing since cinemas were banned by religious clerics in the 1970s.
Prince Waleed's close connections with the Saudi royal family, led by the modernising King Abdullah, were key to convincing authorities in Mecca to give the opening their blessing.
The picture's producers were wary of drawing too much attention, however, in case of a backlash by hardliners.
The two million dollar film, directed by Ayman Makram, is the first bigscreen incarnation of popular Saudi actor, Fayez Al-Maliki's TV persona, Menahi, a naive, humble farmer who often finds himself involved in comic escapades. It centre's on Menahi's involvement in a get-rich-quick scheme and travelling from his tribal homeland to the booming metropolis of Dubai.
On hand for the screenings, Al-Maliki had trouble containing his excitement.
"Today I feel like I'm getting married and I'm very happy. This is the first experiment and it has been very successful. I worked with Rotana and it really was a great production. The production and everyone involved in it, from the crew to the production team, they all had great potential. All of the representatives (of Rotana) working with me gave us everything. I think, with Allah's help, success is ours. It was a great experience and hopefully the next films we make will just get better," Al-Maliki told Reuters.
Members of the audience said they hoped this would be just the beginning of more to come.
"We, as Saudi youths, we need to see such films. Instead of going abroad to see films, it's better to watch them here in Saudi cinemas, "Jameel Khalawi said.
The movie has already opened in neighbouring Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
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JEDDAH CITY, SAUDI ARABIA (DECEMBER 9, 2008) (REUTERS)
POSTERS OF LINING HALLWAY OF CINEMA ENTRANCE
POSTER OF FILM SHOWING THE HERO OF FILM THE SAUDI ACTOR FAYEZ AL MALIKI
ARABIC AND ENGLISH READING OF NAME OF FILM AND TICKETS WINDOW
AUDIENCE GATHERED BEFORE SCREENING
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Copyright: REUTERS
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FILMS CLIP SHOWING ACTOR FAYEZ AL-MALIKI
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Copyright: REUTERS
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AUDIENCE LAUGHING
VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE WATCHING AND LAUGHING
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic)SAUDI ACTOR AND HERO OF MANAHI FILM, FAYEZ AL-MALIKI, SAYING:
"Today I feel like I'm getting married and I'm very happy. This is the first experiment and it has been very successful. I worked with Rotana and it really was a great production. The production and everyone involved in it, from the crew to the production team, they all had great potential. All of the representatives (of Rotana) working with me gave us everything. I think, with Allah's help, success is ours. It was a great experience and hopefully the next films we make will just get better."
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AUDIENCE MEMBER JAMEEL KHALAWI SAYING:
"We, as Saudi youths, we need to see such films. Instead of going abroad to see films, it's better to watch them here in Saudi cinemas."
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Copyright: REUTERS
Duration: 00:00:41
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CLIPS FROM THE FILM
Copyright: REUTERS
Duration: 00:00:21
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(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AYMAN HALAWANI, PRODUCER FOR PRODUCER, ROTANA STUDIOS SAYING:
"Saudi Arabia cinema is still in its early stages but we hope that we are now starting to produce some very good work and making good cinema and good dramas."
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MORE OF FILM CLIPS
Copyright: REUTERS
Duration: 00:00:33
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AUDIENCE LEAVING CINEMA HALL
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Copyright: REUTERS
Duration: 00:00:07
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