Koran By Heart (HBO)

About Koran By Heart (HBO)

'Koran By Heart' is a 2011 documentary film released by HBO on the world’s oldest Quran memorization contest for the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage. The film follows the journey of three 10-year old children from different countries who, despite not speaking Arabic, embark on a journey to Egypt to compete in the world's oldest Quran recitation context.

Making / Production

The film is directed by Greg Barker, a British filmmaker acclaimed for his richly observed, subtly nuanced portraits of distinctive individuals and their complex, emotionally demanding worlds. Barker demonstrates his dirEcting prowess in 'Koran By Heart', effectively managing to capture the intensity of the competition and the unique cultures and backgrounds of the participants.

Actors

• Nabiollah Saidoff: A young boy from Tajikistan who can't read, write or comprehend the Arabic language, but has memorized the 600-page Quran and gives an amazing performance.
• Rifdah Abdul Aziz: A girl from Maldives who, in spite of being one of the only girls in the competition, exhibits a determination that transcends the gender bias in her society.
• Djamil Djambek: A young boy from Senegal whose struggle with his memorization and pronunciation provides an emotional anchor for the audience.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The documentary shows the precise recitation of the Quran, considered a high art and learned ability in the Islamic culture, achieving a feat of raw memory.
• The Quran recitation competition featured in the film brings together around 110 Muslim children from as many countries.
• The film shines a light on Islam and its teachings, providing both insiders and outsiders a deep insight into its practices.

Awards

'Koran By Heart' was highly received by critics but hasn't won any major awards.

Music, Soundtrack

Being a documentary, the film focuses more on its subjects rather than the use of music or a soundtrack. The film does, however, incorporate traditional Islamic music and the melodic recitals of the Quran to add authenticity and context to the narrative.