The relationship between Malik Nejer and Abdulaziz Al-Muzaini in building imaginary cities precedes the construction of Bathaikha. This city serves as the setting for their film (Head to Head - 2023) (راس براس), which premiered on Thursday, August 3rd. Since its launch, the film has consistently ranked first and gained the highest viewership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as in Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, according to a tweet by Al-Muzaini on Twitter (recently renamed “X”).
This success can be attributed to the writer’s and director's previous experiences in building cities and crafting characters. Since their start with cartoon characters in (Masameer ) (مسامير), the realm of creation for them knows no bounds. This is a distinctive advantage of cartoons, where the imagination has no limits and resonates well with an audience eager for familiar and relatable cartoon characters. From Masameer on YouTube, (Masameer County) (محافظة مسامير) was created, forming two successful seasons derived from a good archive, fantastic popularity and a successful return after a film experiment in the box office. They achieved results indicating the viability of what they present in Masameer on a viewing platform the size of Netflix, competing with cinema halls to capture the audience without diminishing the scale of what was offered in (Masameer: The Movie - 2020) (فيلم مسامير). According to them, this facilitated timely access to cinemas and paved the way for further cinematic ventures.
In the realm of creativity, Bathaikha stands as a city unlike any other, where the tools of the writer and director have evolved through extensive experimentation. These experiments are not limited to Masameer but extend to (Ya'rub) (يعرب) and its cities, such as the kingdom of Qedarites and Iram. Iram, with its magnificent signs mentioned in the Holy Quran, such as “[With] Iram – who had lofty pillars, The likes of whom had never been created in the land,” has inspired many throughout history. This reference to unparalleled creation opens the horizons of imagination and serves as a rich source of inspiration for storytellers and filmmakers alike.
The ongoing attempts to unveil the secrets and mystery surrounding Iram stimulate further creative productions. In the era of images, filmmakers are inspired to build imaginary cities, playing the role of Shaddād bin Aād in constructing their own versions of Iram. The evolution of cinematic techniques means that modern creators like Al-Muzaini and Nejer can build Bathaikha in a fraction of the time it took to construct Iram. Wonder and mystery remain crucial in the processes of concealment, revelation, comparison, and resilience, driving the endless cycle of creativity and innovation.
Bathaikha is the city that gave birth to its characters; it possesses the ability to preserve figures like Fayadh, Darwish, Abo Ghadrah, Luqman, Zaroob, and others.
Even the possibility of resurrecting Weld Al Daiman remains highly likely if the act of him being shot occurs without a clear view of his definitive death. Thus, the reliance on characters is as crucial as our reliance on Bathaikha—the nurturing ground of the narrative, the arena of events, and the racetrack.
Someone tweeted, "Bathaikha is the Gotham of Saudi Arabia," and they described it accurately. Building an imaginary city allows creators to present their vision without restrictions or fear of resemblance or misinterpretation. This was achieved by connecting the fictional Bathaikha to the real Riyadh within the dialogue, imagining walking around with a full wallet without fear of being stabbed, and with Fayadh acknowledging this as an undeniable reality. Such dialogues, spoken by the characters in their own dialects and through realistic conversations, are straightforward in presentation. There is no imagination without a basis in reality and no soaring without taking off from the ground. This justifies the actions in a comedy film that draws its spirit from its characters.
This realistic foundation allowed the writer to intelligently address various issues such as racism, stereotypes, and more. Through the character and scenes of the receptionist, played by Malik Nejer, the film showcased an added dimension to his skillset, demonstrating creativity in directing, writing, voice acting, and animation. As he ventured into new territories in cinematography, his performance not only held up but exceeded expectations, leaving the audience at home wishing they had experienced the film in a cinema setting. Bathaikha, with its unique charm and the destruction caused by the character Weld Al Daiman, captivates the audience who revel in the magic of imagery.
Cinema is where this film truly belongs. The film unravels like the cityscape, revealing its mysteries and complexities that are yet to be explored, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating what comes next, much like the city of Gotham in the Batman universe.
The city, with all its destruction and crimes and the significant role played by the villainous character, contributes to raising the anticipation for a real hero to arrive in order to confront the evil protagonist. The necessity of the presence of Batman or equivalent heroes is emphasized, as seen in the creation of Batgirl and the four heroes. Bathaikha’s four heroes were Fayadh, Darwish, and later joined by the red fox Abo Ghadrah and Abood Khufash (a reference to Batman) to rid the city of Weld Al Daiman and his gang.
The city, with all its destruction and crimes, and the significant role played by the villainous character, contributes to raising the anticipation for a real hero to arrive and confront the evil protagonist. The necessity of the presence of Batman or equivalent heroes is emphasized, as seen in the creation of Batgirl and other heroes. Bathaikha's four heroes—Fayadh, Darwish, the red fox Abo Ghadrah, and Abood Khufash (a reference to Batman)—join forces to rid the city of Weld Al Daiman and his gang.
Meanwhile, Muḥammad Al Qass, despite his extensive acting experience, did not reach the anticipated level of proficiency in his roles. His performance in the TV series Family Matter (موضوع عائلي) and as the character Ghazi garnered attention, raising expectations for the return of Weld Al Daiman in a new form. This return would escalate the evil and continue the journey in Bathaikha, building on past developments, introducing new characters, and reinforcing heroism with characters that resonate with us, even if they are fictional. If Gotham has Batman, then Bathaikha has the red fox Abo Ghadrah and the bat Abood Khufash, ready to take off and fly.