Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet is a 2014 animated film produced by Salma Hayek and directed by Roger Allers. It is an adaptation of Khalil Gibran's book of the same name.
The film is set in Lebanon during the Ottoman Empire and stars Hayek as Kamila a struggling single mother who works as a maid for Mustafa (voiced by Liam Neeson) an activist and poet under house arrest. Kamila's daughter, Almitra (Quvenzhané Wallis) has been mute since her father's death and is infamous around town as a troublemaker. After seven years, Mustafa is set to be released and exiled from the country. On his way out he is often stopped by various townsfolk who idolize him and ask him to share his wisdom.
The Prophet adapts many of Gibran's poems and features a slew of guest animators who bring them to life in almost a dozen striking Art Shifts.
The Prophet provides examples of:
- Animal Motifs: There's a lot of avian one's about Mustafa and Almitra. Mustafa waxes poetic about the freedom that birds may aspire to with their wings and Almitra is often accompanied by a seagull that she emulates both as a fun loving free spirit and as a scavenger.
- Art Shift: The production's defining aspect. The film contains numerous segments where the animation shifts to a variety of new styles, each directed by a guest animator. It's all set to music or Mustafa's narration.
- Big Bad: The Commandant.
- Big Eater: The only reason the Sergeant allows all the stops Mustafa makes is because there's food there for him to eat.
- Bittersweet Ending: Almitra begins to speak again having been inspired by Mustafa. Mustafa is still executed by firing squad, but his inspiration lives on and Almitra and Kamila save his works. In the end the pair watch the ship Mustafa was bound for sail away with his spirit aboard.
- Bratty Half-Pint: Almitra's mischief and constantly stealing doesn't delight her to the Baker or the other townsfolk.
- Butt-Monkey: There's a lot of physical comedy at the Sergeant's expense.
- Cute Mute: Deconstruction. Almitra's muteness was caused by her father's death, but it only serves to strain her relationship with Kamila. And while Almitra may be a cute child, her thievery isn't.
- Daddy's Girl: Almitra was close to her father. And his death not only left her in grief but also led to her muteness.
- Disappeared Dad: Almitra's father died prior to the movie's events.
- Dogged Nice Guy: Halim the shy but kind guard with a crush on Kamila.
- Doomed Moral Victor: Though Mustafa was sent to prison for seven years because of his political writings, his words have inspired so many people. Even when he's let out, they flock to him to hear him speak. The Commandant orders him to recant his words or face death, but Mustafa merely states that his words aren't unique, he only gave a voice to what people were saying. Killing him won't silence what he's said and in the end, Kamila and Almitra seek to keep his writings and spread them.
- The Dragon: The Commandant is in charge, but it's the Sergeant who enacts his will; be that leading the soldiers, retrieving Mustafa, or destroying Mustafa's work to ensure his legacy will be gone.
- Face Death with Dignity: Mustafa calmly accepts his future execution.
- Fat Bastard: The Sergeant is a portly man and a rude, condescending asshole to everyone.
- Faux Affably Evil: The Commandant is not only a calm and patient man but also a cruel one. His talk of philosophy with Mustafa very clearly lays out an oppressive and totalitarian worldview and his offer of salvation to Mustafa is worded neutrally but tonally drips with contempt. It's especially obvious seeing as what he's offering to save Mustafa from is the firing squad he's sentenced Mustafa to.
- Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: As the Baker and other adults complaint that Almitra's stealing is troublesome, Kamila states she's acting out because of her father's death. They retort out he's been dead for over a year and the excuse is getting old.
- Intergenerational Friendship: The young Almitra and clearly older Mustafa form a quick friendship upon meeting each other.
- Jerkass Has a Point: The Baker's frustrations with Almitra's stealing is understandable and his response (along with other adults) to Kamila's excuse for her daughter's misbehavior is also correct: She can't keep using her father's death to steal.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: The Baker. He's a gruff man but he tries to be fair. He despises Almitra and her thievery has worn away much of his patience. Still, he admires Mustafa and the poet's words ultimately make him cancel the debt Kamila owes to him and when the soldiers fight with the people he makes a point to protect Almitra.
- Karma Houdini: The Commandant receives no punishment for unjustly executing Mustafa.
- Knight of Cerebus: The Commandant. Unlike the other soldiers there is no humanizing or comedic aspects to him and the film's narrative darkens significantly with his introduction.
- Magnetic Hero: Mustafa is well-respected and beloved by the community.
- Maybe Ever After: Halim has shown to have a crush on Kamila, and her facial dialogue after they (with Almitra) bid farewell to Mustafa, implies she may be returning his affections.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: For all of the Sergeant's buffoonery he is still a threat and when a riot breaks out, his first instinct is to reach for his gun and to open fire on the civilians, an act which Mustafa manages to stop.
- Not So Stoic: While Mustafa is a warm man he's also a very reserved one. All of his dealings with the people are kind, honest, and dignified; he's even patient with the Sergeant. With the Commandant however he has harsher words towards and its clear that underneath his pleasantries he hates what the Commandant stands for.
- Papa Wolf: The Baker defends Almitra when some of the Sergeant's guards attempt to arrest her.
- Secondary Character Title: "The Prophet" refers to Mustafa, and while he's the primary focus, the protagonist is Almitra.
- Shipper on Deck: Mustafa gives advice to Halim on how to romance Kamila.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Almitra is a mini version of her mother, Kamila.
- Struggling Single Mother: Besides worrying about having a job and dealing with her husband's death, Kamila is also trying to raise her rambunctious, trouble making daughter, Almitra.
- Supporting Protagonist: Both Almitra and Kamila play this role. The narrative is from their POV but the focus of the story is Mustafa.
- Would Hurt a Child: The Sergeant attempts to arrest Almitra.
