Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A chill poet is finally being kicked out of town after years of house arrest, but his biggest problem is everyone stopping him on the way to ask for deep life questions, all while a silent, mischievous little girl tags along.

🍿 Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Mustafa’s Exile and House Arrest

The story begins in a fictional Middle Eastern city where Mustafa, a poet and artist, has been living under house arrest for seven years. His words are considered dangerous by the ruling authorities, who fear they could incite rebellion. He lives a quiet life, attended by his housekeeper, Kamila.

A Bond with Almitra

Kamila’s young daughter, Almitra, has not spoken since the death of her father and is known for being mischievous. Despite her initial reservations, Almitra forms a unique bond with Mustafa. He sees beyond her troubled exterior and communicates with her through his poetry and gentle nature.

The Journey to the Ship

One day, the authorities announce that Mustafa is free to leave, but he must board a ship bound for his homeland immediately. Mustafa, accompanied by Kamila and followed closely by Almitra, embarks on a journey through the city towards the harbor. This walk becomes an opportunity for the townsfolk to interact with him one last time.

Sharing Wisdom Through Poetry

As Mustafa travels through the city, people gather to hear his wisdom. They ask him about various aspects of life – freedom, marriage, work, children, love, and death. His responses are delivered in the form of Kahlil Gibran’s famous poems, each illustrated by a unique, visually stunning animated segment created by different acclaimed artists.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Mustafa (Liam Neeson): An exiled artist and poet whose insightful words are feared by the ruling authorities.
• Kamila (Salma Hayek): Mustafa’s housekeeper and a protective single mother who accompanies him and her daughter.
• Almitra (Quvenzhané Wallis): Kamila’s spirited young daughter who forms a special bond with Mustafa.
• Pasha (Frank Langella): The fearful authoritarian ruler who considers Mustafa’s writings a threat.
• Sergeant (Alfred Molina): An officer of the authorities responsible for overseeing Mustafa’s movements.
• Halim (John Krasinski): A sympathetic guard who serves the Pasha but respects Mustafa.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mustafa: “I have seen people throw themselves down and worship their own freedom, like slaves before a tyrant. Praising him though he slays them. I have seen the freest among them wear their freedom as a handcuff, and my heart bled within me. For you can only be free when you no longer speak of freedom as a goal. And how can you be free, unless you break the chains you have fastened around yourself? In truth, that which you call freedom is the strongest of these chains, though its links glitter in the sun.” – Part of Mustafa’s discourse on the nature of freedom, delivered as an animated segment.
• Mustafa: “When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.” – Recited during the animated segment exploring the theme of love.
• Mustafa: “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.” – Spoken during the visually distinct segment dedicated to the subject of children.
• Mustafa: “Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love, but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.” – Part of the poem on work, illustrated with a unique animation style.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $12,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $725,489
• Worldwide Gross: $1,261,412

💥 Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie is something else! I went in expecting a straightforward animated story, but it’s more like watching a moving art gallery paired with profound spoken word. Liam Neeson’s voice as Mustafa is just perfect, so calming and wise as he recites Gibran’s words. The animated segments illustrating the poems are the real stars. They’re all so different, like little masterpieces within the film. Some were incredibly moving and visually stunning, while others felt a bit abstract for me, but even those were fascinating to look at. The main story with Almitra and her mother is sweet, adding a human element to the philosophical journey. I particularly loved the ‘On Love’ segment; it was visually gorgeous and really resonated. This isn’t a fast-paced adventure, it’s a film to sink into, reflect on, and appreciate for its beauty and message. It definitely stuck with me after the credits rolled.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Kahlil Gibran’s book”
  • “Enthusiasts of diverse and artistic animation”
  • “Viewers interested in philosophical or spiritual themes”
  • “Those seeking thoughtful, non-traditional animated films”
  • “Audiences who appreciate strong voice acting”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Philosophical/spiritual themes may be complex for young children”
  • “Deals with mature concepts like death, freedom, and persecution”
  • “Depicts themes of political oppression and censorship”
  • “Brief depiction of conflict with authorities (sound of firing squad mentioned in reviews)”

Professional Reviews

• User Review: “An ambitious animated film based on Kahlil Gibran’s work, featuring breathtaking segments from various acclaimed animators. While the framing narrative can feel simple or uneven, serving mainly to connect the poetic interludes, the sheer artistry of the individual interpretations of Gibran’s poems makes it a visual feast and a unique cinematic experience. Liam Neeson’s narration perfectly captures the essence of the text.
• User Review: “This adaptation of ‘The Prophet’ is less about plot and more about presenting Gibran’s philosophical musings through diverse animation styles. The main story, centering on Mustafa, a housekeeper, and her daughter, provides a gentle framework. The real highlights are the short, artistic segments illustrating poems on love, work, freedom, etc. Some segments resonate deeply, others less so, but the overall commitment to visual artistry is commendable, though perhaps not for every taste.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers were deeply moved by the film’s emotional and spiritual themes.: The diverse and beautiful animation styles used for each poem segment were widely praised as the film’s greatest strength, along with Liam Neeson’s voice acting.

Overall Consensus: A visually stunning and philosophically rich animated anthology that serves as a moving interpretation of Kahlil Gibran’s ‘The Prophet’, though some found the framing story less engaging than the poetic segments.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is a passion project spearheaded by Salma Hayek, who served as a producer and voice actor (Kamila). She is of Lebanese descent, the birthplace of Kahlil Gibran, and promoted the film there.”
• “Each of the eight poetic segments featured in the film was directed and animated by a different acclaimed international animator, including Bill Plympton, Tomm Moore, and Nina Paley, giving each section a unique visual style.”
• “While the core story of Mustafa’s journey and the character of Almitra was created for the film, the poems recited by Mustafa are taken directly from Kahlil Gibran’s original 1923 book.”
• “The animation style for the main narrative, directed by Roger Allers (co-director of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’), uses cel-shaded 3D animation, distinct from the diverse hand-drawn styles used in the poetic segments.”

🖥️ How to Watch Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet?

Finding ‘The Prophet’ for streaming can vary by region and time. Currently, you may be able to stream it on platforms like Netflix (mentioned in reviews, availability may change). For the most flexibility, it is widely available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play. Check your preferred service for current availability and pricing options to enjoy this unique animated film.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, you might like these similar films:

• Fantasia (1940): Like ‘The Prophet’, this is an animated anthology film where distinct visual segments interpret artistic concepts, in this case, classical music rather than poetry.
• The Red Turtle (2016): A visually stunning, dialogue-light animated film that explores profound philosophical themes about life, nature, and connection, similar to the reflective nature of ‘The Prophet’.
• Persepolis (2007): An animated drama that uses a distinct visual style to tell a personal story set against a backdrop of political upheaval, touching on themes of freedom and identity.
• Sita Sings the Blues (2008): Features a unique, diverse animation style to adapt classic literature (the Ramayana), sharing the artistic and literary adaptation approach, and one of its animators (Nina Paley) directed a segment in ‘The Prophet’.
• Waking Life (2001): An animated film that uses rotoscoping and other animation techniques to visualize philosophical discussions, much like ‘The Prophet’ visualizes Gibran’s poetic philosophy.

🛒 Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet Related Products

• Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet (Book): The original, timeless collection of philosophical essays and poems on topics like love, work, freedom, and death that inspired the movie.
• Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet (Blu-ray/DVD): Own the movie to revisit the stunning animation and hear Liam Neeson’s narration whenever you like.
• The Art of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet (Companion Book): Explore the visual development and diverse artistic styles used in the film’s segments, featuring concept art and interviews with the different animators.
• Poetry Journal or Notebook: A high-quality journal or notebook for recording personal reflections, poems, or thoughts inspired by Gibran’s words and the film’s themes.

🎧 Soundtrack

Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Hypnosis” – performed by Damien Rice
• “On Love (segment music)” – performed by Glen Hansard & Lisa Hannigan
• “Various Scores” – performed by Gabriel Yared
• “On Children (segment music)” – performed by Nina Paley

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Do Not Love Half Lovers – Khalil Gibran (Powerful Life Poetry)

Ever feel like you’re holding back or settling for less? Dive into this incredibly popular reading of a classic Khalil Gibran poem that honestly makes you reflect on living life fully.

Pain – Khalil Gibran (Powerful Life Poetry)

Gibran wasn’t afraid to explore deep emotions, and this poem on pain is truly moving. If you appreciate raw honesty in poetry, this one is a must-watch.

KAHLIL GIBRAN POWERFUL LIFE STORY in telugu – Think Telugu Podcast

Curious about the man behind The Prophet? Get a quick glimpse into the life story of Khalil Gibran himself – fascinating to see the journey that shaped such a profound writer! (Note: This one is in Telugu).

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