VOA常速英语2008年-Islamic Movie 'Ayat Ayat Cinta' Wows Indonesian

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
13 March 2008

A hugely popular movie based on an Indonesian Islamic novel is drawing record crowds to theaters in Indonesia.  As VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from Jakarta, Islamic novels, movies and songs are becoming increasingly popular in the country.

"Ayat Ayat Cinta," which roughly translates into "Verses of Love," is one of the biggest selling movies to hit Indonesia in recent years.

People are flocking to cinemas across the country to watch this Islamic movie that has been adapted from the best selling novel of the same name.

The story follows the life of a young Indonesian man, named Fahri, who moves to Egypt to study at the Al-Azhar University and the problems he encounters and attempts to solve through the teachings of Islam.

Long, melodramatic, yet gorgeously shot in Central Java and India, Ayat Ayat Cinta is, at the end of the day, a love story.

Fahri must choose a wife from four very different women and, along the way, he espouses¹ women's rights by reciting from the Koran, yet also takes a second wife, again, in accordance with Islamic teachings.

The movie is part of a current trend in this secular², democratic nation with the world's largest Muslim population, where Islamic teachings are reaching popular culture through movies, books, and songs.

 Filmmaker Hanung Bramantyo says he wanted to make this movie to show a different side of Islam, which he says is often associated with terrorism and intolerance, in the Western media.

He says he chose to make the movie because, in the novel, the teachings of Islam are presented in a positive way and Muslims are portrayed⁴ as a people who practice tolerance³, patience, sincerity⁵ and honesty.

During one memorable⁶ scene, passengers on a crowded Cairo train refuse to give up their seats to an ailing⁷, elderly American woman, because of their anger towards the United States.

But Fahri saves the day, preaching that Islam is a religion of tolerance and one that extends welcome towards all foreigners.

Although most Indonesians practice a moderate form of the faith, a small-but-vocal minority are hardline, militant⁸ Muslims who want to see Islamic law implemented⁹ in the country.

Filmmaker Hanung says his message of tolerance is aimed at all Muslims and that he thinks the movie is popular because it reaches out to common people and talks about ordinary lives and ordinary problems.

 He says using the media is one way to get out Islamic teaching and values to the general population.

Movie-goer Fatima seems to share his view.

She says she liked the film because it has a message of faith; one that she thinks resonates with many Indonesians.

1 espouses   

v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She followed the feminist movement; The candidate espouses Republican ideals. 她支持女权运动；这个侯选人支持共和党人的观点。 来自互联网
• Give me a break – every decent company espouses these things! 让我歇歇吧–每一个正规公司都赞成这些！ 来自互联网

2 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

3 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

4 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 sincerity   

n.真诚，诚意；真实

参考例句：

• His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
• He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。

6 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

7 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

8 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

9 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句