A ROAD TO MECCA – The Journey of Muhammad Asad

The incredible story of a Jew who became a Muslim - A cinematic travelogue in search of a liberal Islam and a tolerant West.

Date | 1. December 2021, 6 pm

Venue | Admiral Kino, Burggasse 119, 1070 Wien

Film, Austria 2008 / 92 min, Director: Georg Misch, Script: Miriam Ali de Unzaga / Georg Misch

At the beginning of the 1920's, a young Austrian Jew, Leopold Weiss goes on a journey to visit his family in Jerusalem. But despite of being in the Jewish homeland, he is increasingly fascinated by the Arabs. Soon, the desert seems more appealing to him than the kibbutz and he strongly opposes Zionism. Finally he does the unthinkable: He converts to Islam and becomes Muhammad Asad. What follows is a most extraordinary life: Asad travels the deserts of Saudi Arabia and becomes a close friend of King Abdul Aziz. He is involved in the foundation of Pakistan and becomes the country's first Ambassador to the United Nations. He works for 17 years on a new translation of the Koran which is angrily burned by its opponents but also sets a new standard around the world.

Throughout all of his controversial life, Asad tried to promote a thinking man's approach to Islam and to build bridges between Orient and Occident. This film follows his fading footsteps, from freezing Ukraine to the Arabian deserts, from Pakistan to Ground Zero in search of what remains of Asad's ideas of a liberal Islam in our world of today. "A Road To Mecca" is a fascinating biography and at the same time allows entirely new insights into the burning questions of the present.

Produced by Mischief Films www.mischief-films.com

Film in its original version with English subtitles. Georg Misch will give an introduction to his film and will be present for Q&A afterwards.