The scorching desert winds of the sixth century are shaken by a new voice echoing through the stone streets of Mecca. In this epic historical production, Moustapha Akkad weaves the birth of monotheism and the walls of oppression erected by the pagan aristocracy not as a breathless adventure, but as a patient epic drama. The fear growing in the shadow of Abu Sufyan clashes with the resistance of a handful of people struggling to survive through their faith. The camera’s frame conveys the raw texture of the era in every detail, from the dust kicked up by feet walking through the desert to the majestic presence of the Kaaba. The political tension underlying the battle scenes and the exiles endured for the sake of faith form the dramatic backbone of the film. While Akkad paints a large-scale historical fresco, he does not push the human story into the background.