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Wed. Apr. 11, 2001
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Art & Culture > Movie &Theatre > Archive
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Movie Review: Hay - The Gazelle Child
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Hay - The Gazelle Child, based on the great 12th century Andalusian philosopher Ibn Tufayl 's (Abubacer) masterfully written treatise Risala Hayy bin Yaqzan fi Asrar al-Hikmat al-Mashriqiyyah, is entertainment with a purpose. Through the medium of visual entertainment, it seeks to promote love of the Creator along with faith.
The story begins with a lonely baby floating in the ocean towards an unknown destination. Disaster had struck his home - a small island located on the mid-equator where a ruthless tyrant ruled. Having no children of his own, he had ordered the massacre of all the male children in his extended family.
His sister, wife of Yaqzan, had concealed her pregnancy and, later, gave birth to Hay. When the ruler found out, he sent his henchmen to kill the boy. Hay's mother, however, managed to take him to the beach and left him by the ocean. In the opening scene, the ocean's waves are carrying the baby to an uninhabited island full of trees and animals.
Disaster soon strikes the island again and kills the king along with most of its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Hay is discovered on the desolate island by a female gazelle that nourishes him and takes care of him just like he was her own.
As Hay grows up, he discovers more and more about himself and his immediate environment. Discovering his nakedness, he covers himself with leaves. He also discovers his vulnerability to danger. Frequently bullied by a wild goat that always gives him a good beating, Hay becomes depressed because he recognizes that all the animals are equipped with natural defense mechanisms and he doesn't have any.
Hay attempts flying with the use of eagle wings that he stripped off a dead eagle, but fails miserably. However, he eventually discovers how to use a stick with his hands and realizes that his hands allow him superiority over the animals.
Hay also reflects on the fact that, while the animals and their offspring look alike, he is different from his mother. When the mother gazelle becomes pregnant, Hay is happy and hopes the baby will look like him. To his disappointment, the gazelle gives birth to a baby gazelle. Hay recovers from his shock upon realizing that he still loves his "mother" and he takes care of her and the baby.
The mother gazelle dies, despite Hay's best efforts to revive her. While trying to, though, he discovers his soul, which like the stick in his hand (when lit with fire), can bring light and warmth and bears resemblance to the heavenly bodies.
In his quest for understanding, Hay travels into the hinterland of the island where he discovers new and exciting things like honey and the use of fire. He also realizes that he is a "thinking person" as he reflects on the power of thought and dreams. He wonders if there is a creator behind everything.
One day, by the light of a torch, Hay enters a giant cave. Eventually, he becomes lost and his torch burns out, leaving him in total darkness. Reflecting on his life, he seeks help from the Creator who has always helped him and has blessed him with numerous bounties.
Ibn Tufayl's Hayy bin Yaqzan, called by Sarton "one of the most original books of the middle ages," propounds the idea that, in a natural environment, man will realize the existence of the one true Creator who always looks after us.
The cartoon video rendition of Ibn Tufayl's work has a running time of 75 minutes. Produced by Asr Media, it seeks to inculcate strong Islamic values among children.
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