A cinema recently freed from censorship
As early as the 1900s, the first Lumière and Pathé operators traveled freely in what was to become the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, capturing footage of pilgrims on their way to Mecca. But apart from these few images, and a handful of documentaries in the first half of the 20th century, it has to be said that Saudi Arabia is rather lacking in cinematographic productions. This was due to a lack of investment, followed by a complete ban on the seventh art in the mid-1980s. This censorship led to the bankruptcy and forced closure of many of the country's cinemas, resulting in a total cinematic desert for almost thirty years. During this period, film buffs had to fall back on satellite television, or the few restaurants that defied the ban to show films to their customers eager to discover new things. It wasn't until the end of 2008 that cinema screenings were organized again, to the delight of hundreds of spectators at the very first screenings. This was an opportunity to discover on the big screen the first Saudi feature film, released two years earlier only on television: Keif al-Hal? (How are you?) by Izidore Musallam (2006), starring Saudi actress Hind Mohammed. The same year saw the release of Cinema 500 km, a sharp comedy by Abdullah Al-Eyaf highlighting the absurdity of the country's cinematic situation. A state of affairs that leads the protagonist to travel all the way to Bahrain to discover his love on the big screen. Notable films include Haifaa al-Mansour's Wadjda (2012). The first film to be shot entirely on Saudi territory, it is also the first feature film by this filmmaker who is as criticized as she is praised in her native country. The film was selected for the Venice Film Festival, and its director has since enjoyed an international career. Works such as Wadjda and Haifaa al-Mansour's The Perfect Candidate are well worth seeing, and the revival of Saudi cinema is definitely underway.
A wealth of rooms and a race for luxury
In Saudi Arabia, the reopening of cinemas was definitively confirmed at the end of 2017. Since then, new groups have set up shop across the country, criss-crossing the major cities to welcome ever more moviegoers. American, Indian and Middle Eastern blockbusters are the films that fill theaters, and Saudi cinema is increasingly present. To win over audiences, exhibitors are vying with each other to offer ever more luxurious complexes. The Muvi Cinemas group, for example, founded in Riyadh in 2019, is a master in the art of boutique cinemas. A true experience, especially when you find yourself in front of the Onyx LED screen of this state-of-the-art cinema in Jeddah. A technology rare enough to be highlighted, it may well represent the future of cinema. If so, one thing's for sure: Saudi Arabia won't be left behind.
