Nicole Kidman James Franco Damian Lewis Robert Pattinson
Celebrated filmmaker Werner Herzog takes us on
a journey with Gertrude Bell, a remarkable British woman who in the early part
of the 20th Century took it upon herself to explore the Middle East on her own
with a small staff. She was a
writer, archeologist, explorer, mapmaker, and political advisor to the British
Empire, wielding considerable influence on how boundaries were drawn in the
area following WWI. She developed a
keen interest in the Bedouin tribes of Saudi Arabia, fearlessly walking into
their settlements and requesting meetings with the reigning sheiks, which was
apparently always granted. Many of
these men believed that she had a better understanding of them than anyone else
in the West.
Educated at Oxford, Bell (beautifully played by
Nicole Kidman) was very intelligent, but unlike most women in that age, was
determined to navigate her own life as she pleased. She single-mindedly pursued her goals, bristling at any male
attempts to rein her in. She could
easily be an inspiration to women everywhere even today.
It appears that Herzog as writer and director
of the film needed to add very little to the script that was not based on facts
gathered from Bell’s books and personal correspondence. Her written observations of the people
she met, her photography, and her varied experiences provide rich information
for the screenwriter and cinematographer.
Herzog has used Cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger for many of his movies,
and the man has once again proved his worth with photography that is eloquent
in its palette and the camera’s curious eye in navigating the terrain outdoors
in the desert, within the tribal settlements, and in the cultured drawing rooms
of British aristocracy.
I found this to be a fascinating journey,
particularly in light of current conditions in the Middle East and certainly in
presenting the rare woman who could navigate her way in some of the most
masculine-dominant situations. Was
she just lucky? I think not. There were far too many risky
encounters for it to be that; she was canny, honest, forthright, and a skilled
negotiator in getting what she wanted, while still maintaining respect for
whoever was on the other side of the negotiation.
Kidman seems just right for the role, and her
playful flirtations with Henry (Franco), a character patterned after someone
else Bell was involved with, add a little fun and romance to the story. Bell’s later involvement with British
officer Wylie (Lewis) doesn’t have the same chemistry, but is still
entertaining. Her interactions
with archeologist T. E. Lawrence (Pattinson) capture well their mutual cynicism
about British government decisions.
Queen of
the Desert presents a necessarily abbreviated but empathic account of a
phenomenal woman in the beginning of the 20th Century who forged a
path that is unique for women. Going where few or no others had dared to tread,
Gertrude Bell came to know herself and what was important to her in her
isolated travels in the Arabian Desert, which might seem secondary to the
valuable connections she was making and information she was gathering about a
mysterious culture. In the history
of women, however, it is groundbreaking.
It could be criticized for skimping on the
political information and negotiations Bell conducted, but I think that is in
favor of the cinematic photographic sweep and focusing on Bell’s
personality. It’s classic Werner
Herzog.
A delight to see a woman of action
being so successful.
No comments:
Post a Comment