Salma Hayek promoted this film on her visit to Lebanon, the birth place of Gibran Kahlil Gibran. Hayek is also of Lebanese descent.
Salma Hayek is Mexican of Lebanese, Spanish, as well as Mexican descent. Kahlil Gibran is American of Lebanese Origin, born in Bcharre, North Lebanon. Gabriel Yared is French of Lebanese Origin, born in Beirut, Lebanon.
Kahlil Gibran, on whose work this film is based, was born in Lebanon. While a young teenager, his family immigrated to NewYork City. He attended university in Paris, and eventually returned to the U.S., where he lived the rest of his life. He was never imprisoned, like the poet, Mustafa, in this film.
Salma Hayek studied in Stella Adler Studio of Acting. One of the first exercises in Adler Technique class is to read Khalil Gibran's The Prophet, pick the chapter that touches you the most and talk about it in front of the class tying it to your personal life. It's probably there were she read the book for the first time.
Movie Insider founder Brian D. Renner credited this movie twice.