Almira Al Husseini, Global Voices

What prevents the presence of cinema screening halls in Saudi Arabia?
Unfortunately, this is the question poised at the beginning of every discussion
for an answer which contains the reasons to follow - but the reasons are never
convincing. The main idea is lost and we are content with discussing the idea
of cinema halls in general before they become a reality in Saudi Arabia.
What many people are misguided about is the wrong belief of the benefit of
cinemas. A lot of people think that it is 'merely' a means of entertainment. In
reality, it is more than that by a lot.. Cinema is, like books, a means of
culture more than entertainment. What it presents is not lesser in importance than
any other art. Films are not something new for us. The video market we have is
a testimony that we are well versed in this art, even when this is a depressing
reality as the videos in our market focus on action and cheap comedy because of
the monopoly and commercial nature of this market. The wor
 ry is always from the content and not
from the screening halls - this is how we should think logically. Thoughts come
to the viewer because of the content (of those movies) and the cinema is a
vehicle for this thought just as television is - and the latter is not banned
in our country. What is the fear for then?
 
 
 
What if we presented a cinema with Islamic regulations, with the material
censored? All countries categorise films based on age groups and this method
regulates how films are screened in a better way. Censors can decide on the age
groups suitable for each movie in the way they see suitable. They can cut the
undesirable parts just as they do with video tapes and in a way which doesn't
effect the proceedings of the film. And let the cinema showing timings not
coincide with prayer timings.. Why can't we find a way to separate the women's
and children's cinemas from the men's cinema? We don't want a cinema to
showcase the culture of others, as much as we need it produce our own culture.
Cinemas carry a message which we can project the way we want and by utilising
it effectively, we can make the world listen to our voices without the
stereotypes which mar our images in their eyes.