Queen Of The Desert * * *

Were in the desert, of course 
you'll see  camel toes.... Why?

Just needs  “Priscilla” in front of it doesn’t it? Actually it needs more than that.

I haven’t heard from Werner Herzog for so long I was beginning to wonder if he had retired or something.  Apparently he has been as busy as ever, but not too many of his films have ended up in Australia.  I remember in the seventies there were queues to see Aguirre Wrath Of The Gods.  Perhaps they’ll be queuing for this too - but it might be a different audience.
This is the story of Gertrude Bell who, like TE Lawrence, was an English person greatly involved in the Arab world, as an historian, an admirer and an aide to politicians.  She was referred to for her advice as the British and the French arrogantly delineated the new borders with an unashamed sense of right and entitlement at the end of the Ottoman empire.
A few things struck me about this film: it is polite it is romanticised,  and  it is sanitised.  But more than that I found it curiously anonymous, which is unfortunate for a biographical film.
As portrayed in this film the principal character does not leap from the screen, searing an image into your memory and imagination (this ain’t no Gandi). Also you feel it could have been directed by anyone. It doesn’t have that Herzog stamp of risk on it. It’s safe and polite.

It often looks like a cover of Vogue: “This month we go Arabesque”.  And with tall slim Nicole Kidman playing the lead role you could not have a more model-like actress.  Not that that should take away from her performance, which is actually quite good given the constraints that the script and tone of the film put upon her.  But it is a bit silly at times to see her dismount from her camel with her glorious blonde hair tumbling down and looking as immaculate as it would in a shampoo advertisement.

One of the redeeming features of this film is that it is a bit of an education.  As is history's way, if two people were equally involved in an activity it’s the man who’ll be getting the fame and glory.
This is the true story of Gertrude Bell.  Her achievements and standing among the Arab tribes are no less than that of TE Lawrence yet who’s heard of her?  For giving her greater attention and inspiring us to go off and find the facts behind all this glamour, Queen of the Desert more than justifies itself.