The astonishing story of one of the most pioneering figures of 20th century Islam - Leopold Weiss, a Jewish-born journalist from Austria.

Synopsis
In 1926, an Austrian-born Ashkenazi Jew, journalist Leopold Weiss, decided to convert to Islam. Having been raised in (and subsequently disowned by) a Jewish family, Weiss - or Muhammad Asad as he became known - found himself fascinated by his adopted home of Palestine and the lives of the Bedouin Arabs he encountered. Following his conversion, Asad become one of the most influential and inspirational Muslims of the century and a key thinker of his time. In'A Road To Mecca - The Journey Of Muhammad Asad', Austrian filmmaker George Misch follows his footsteps, retracing the journey Asad made through the Arab world to Mecca, as a way of reflecting on today's Arab world and contemporary relations between East and West. His film is a deeply thoughtful, intelligent and human portrait of both an extraordinary man and a region in the flux of change.

Austria/2008/English, Arabic, German, Spanish, Urdu, Hebrew dialogue with English subtitles/Colour/HDCAM/92 mins
Directed by: Georg Misch

Interests: Biography, Documentary, Historical

Director: Georg Misch
Producer: Ralph Wieser
Scriptwriter: Georg Misch, Miriam Ali de Unzaga
Cinematographer: Joerg Burger
Composer: Jim Howard
Editor: Marek Kralovsky


FESTIVALS / AWARDS

2008 | DIFF - Dubai Festival
* Arabian Nights
* Middle East Premiere