QUEEN OF THE DESERT

US, 2015, 190 minutes, Colour.
Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Damian Lewis, David Calder, Jenny Agutter.
Directed by Werner Herzog.

For more than 40 years, Werner Herzog has been both provocative and profound in his range of films. He began with some art-house narrative features, including The Enigma of Kasper Hauser as well as a version of Nosferatu in the 1970s. He has also continued to make a number of documentaries, and is well-known for his hard treatment of his cast, especially in the Latin American-set films, Aguirre, The Wrath of God and Fitzcaraldo.

Over the decades, he has been prolific, blending features and documentaries, often going to remote areas to exploit human experience there, including the Antarctic (and, in some moments of irony, he comically voices a film-maker in Antarctica in the animated film, Penguins of Madagascar). In recent years, he has worked from a base in the United States, making such features as Bad Lieutenant, New Orleans, as well as a documentary on the prehistoric drawings in the caves in France, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, filming in 3 D.

Yet, it is something of a surprise to find him making Queen of the Desert. It is very much in the traditional modes of filmmaking, a straightforward narrative, action sequences and romance, with a historical perspective.

Gertrude Bell was an English woman, educated at the University, a pioneer in her times at the beginning of the 20th century. Dissatisfied with life in England, she goes to the British Embassy in Tehran, finds the old Persian culture congenial, begins to learn Farsi, which becomes a preparation for her return to the Middle East and becoming something of an explorer and archaeologist.

However, the screenplay alerts the audience to her role during World War I, her friendship and association with T.E. Lawrence and the repercussions for knowledge of the Bedouin tribes, their alliances, the experience of the war and the reshaping by the conquering allies, creating Middle Eastern countries. Winston Churchill presides at a meeting early in the film to discuss the repercussions for the war and his advisers at the meeting refer him to Gertrude Bell, some very traditional male types sneering at her and what she has achieved.

The film looks very good, the scenes in England very much in the Merchant-Ivory? respectable style. Iran looks more than a touch exotic. But the film and its photography are beautiful and strong in the many desert sequences as Gertrude ventures into the Arabian pensioner, visits Damascus, and shares in aspects of the life of the tribes. Considering that Lawrence of Arabia was made in 1962, it is very surprising that there has not been a film about Gertrude Bell before this.

Herzog is well served by his cast. Nicole Kidman is at her best as Gertrude Bell, very much an English lady at all times, but one with a keen sense of enquiry, and empathy for the Arabs who receive her very well and consider that she is one of the best westerners for understanding them. On the personal level, Gertrude clashes with her newly-rich parents and their desire for a good marriage. In Tehran, she meets one of the staff who is attracted to her, teaches her Farsi, falls in love but has to return to England where her father forbids her to marry, with tragic consequences for the young man. Surprisingly, he is played by James Franco.

In Damascus, a married official (Damian Lewis) falls in love with her. She hesitates, but reciprocate only to find that he volunteers to fight in the war. Audiences might be surprised to find that after her adventures in the desert, Gertrude Bell worked for the British government, based in Cairo, collaborating with T.E. Lawrence and that she continued this work until her death in 1926.

Film buffs might be disappointed that Herzog, at this stage of his life and career, has made such a popular kind of film. Most audiences will find it interesting and entertaining.

1. The story of Gertrude Bell? History, biography, her personal story, in the Middle East, her achievement?

2. Werner Herzog and his career, the many documentaries, the avant-garde features? This film in the mainstream?

3. The period, 1900 to 1915, the British background, the mansion, the families, the socials? Tehran, the embassy, affluence, socials? The surroundings, the mountains and rivers, the desert? Damascus, Cairo, the British presence and offices? The scenes in Petra? The desert sands, the remote villages? The atmosphere? The musical score?

4. The opening, 1915, the discussion about the war, the protectorates in the Middle East, the influence of Russia, France, Britain? The collapse of the Ottoman Empire? Churchill and his presiding? The officer and his insults about Gertrude? Richard and his support? T.E. Lawrence and his esteem for Gertrude Bell?

5. Gertrude at home, her studying at Oxford, before her times? Her intellectual achievements and reading? The family’s wealth, the snobbery, expectations for Gertrude and social marriage? Her mother and her outlook, comments, her father and his agreeing, their characters? Yet Gertrude wanting to leave, her father’s letting go? Her father and his later preventing the marriage to Harry? The news of Harry’s suicide and the sending of the half coin and the message?

6. Tehran, the ambassador, part of the family? Florence and her flightiness, flirtation, emotions, especially concerning Harry, following, the billiards trick, the cards trick? His politely trying to put Florence off? Harry and his attraction to Gertrude, going out with her, confiding, the intimacy, the kiss, teaching her the language, the translations, the poetry? The proposal, the half coin? The love scene? Gertrude returning, his disappointment, going to the desert, his note, the coin, his death?

7. Gertrude, the news of Harry’s death, his being in her heart, her not wanting to marry anyone?

8. Going to the Middle East, archaeological work, the men working with her, Fattuh and Omar, the devotion? Riding in the desert, the camels, the camps? Amenities, the bath at the desert oasis? Her destinations and purpose? To know the Bedouin, appreciating their freedom, dignity? Going to the markets, the purchases? The British officers, meeting Richard, his trying to dissuade her, her determination? The British officer and his despising women, insulting?

9. The desert, not having a permit from the British or the Turks, the Turkish officer, Futtuh and his having the forgery? The courtesy of the Turks, the photograph?

10. Richard and Judith, intimate, the table talk? Richard’s attraction? Giving Gertrude the stallion, her changing it for camels? The gift of the pistols? Her giving them as a gift to the Sheikh? His love, and Gertrude not being ready? Judith and the prospect of divorce, threatening suicide? Gertrude writing the diary for Harry, his re-enlisting, his death in action?

11. The local feuds, and Omar’s feigning being mute? The visit to the Sheikh, the tribe, her being received, the dominant attitude, the Sheikh and the reference to Virgil, culture, his visits to Europe, enjoying Gertrude’s company, his protection?

12. The visit to Petra, the archaeology, Lawrence and his presence, the locals thinking Gertrude was his wife-two-be? The indication of Lawrence’s homosexuality? The discussions, shared spirit, local knowledge?

13. The request for her to be a spy, her refusal?

14. The visit to the tribe, the Sheikh, the men with guns, the compliment of offering the goat’s head at the banquet? The escort?

15. Going to Ha’il, the warnings, the history, her being the only one allowed in? Fatima and the woman from Istanbul and their warnings? Three weeks enclosed? The proposal that Gertrude become part of the harem? The young Sheikh, his arrival, the explanations that it was a dishonour to have a married woman in the harem? Being allowed to leave?

16. Writing a diary, Richard reading it? The impact of the return, her decision to end her travels?

17. The war and its outbreak, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, British plans?

18. Appointment, going to Cairo, Churchill and his reliance on her, the photo opportunity? Meeting Lawrence, working together, their knowledge and advice? The plans for the Middle East, the meeting with Prince Faisal and his brother, predicting they would be Kings? Kingdoms of Iraq and Syria?

19. The final information about Gertrude, the public work, dying in 1926? The comment that she was the person who knew the Bedouins best?