Queen of the Desert

A film worth seeing, explains the birth of present middle east. A visionary feast and both Nicole Kidman and James Franco's acting is superb.Most critics didn't give it a thumbs up but for me it was a beautiful film, maybe because the lead was a woman who changed the course of history! For anyone who doesn't know anything about the middle east should see it just for history and Gertrude Bells significance in history.... The photography is exhilarating and get to see the desert and the oasis in their beauty. The movie might lack historical details but it focuses on Gertrude Bells life, so that is understandable. But at least for people who never knew what or how the middles east came about and what she did it is an eye opener. A must see file for me!

DEAR IMDb I was very disappointed watching this movie! this movie neglects a very important period life of ms bell in IRAQ, where she lived many many years after establishing the royal era in IRAQ in 1921. Ms bell had a major rule in IRAQ's politics and she was RESPONSIBLE FOR given IRAQI Sunni's the major rule. she WAS GIVEN THE (Duchess OF ALWIYAH)when she established a private country club which was private for the Britt's in Baghdad (Alwiyah club) and no IRAQI's were allowed till 1961! as a viewer I expected that more than half of the movie would tell the story of her life in IRAQ !! ms bell had the respect of all the parties and politicians in IRAQ for her great performance in the life of all IRAQIS

source: Queen of the Desert

7.75 of 10. Insightful film into why the Middle East is structured as it is. Based on the true story of Gertrude Bell, it brings history to life, even though it could have used a replacement for Nicole Kidman playing Gertrude as a young woman. Nevertheless, Nicole and makeup and post-production smoothing actually makes her look much younger than you'd expect and it doesn't detract from the film as a whole. Set while the UK was still the empire of the world before and during World War 1, it's not a war film. It gives a look beyond the religions into the cultures and ways of the region. It also shows a rarity at the time in a woman explorer and writer having a great deal of impact on the politics of the region. Surprisingly relevant to today's ongoing conflicts in the Middle East in addition to the underlying animosity and lack of respect for Germany in Europe that may have provided part of the source for World War 2 and Germany's animosity for the people of the region. The other surprising element is the exploration of how people entertained themselves and communicated in the early 1900s. It's a world without phones, radio, TV, computers, and the Internet.

QUEEN Of THE DESERT, In Competition at Berlin 2015, A chronicle of Gertrude Bell's life, a traveler, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer, and political attaché for the British Empire at the dawn of the twentieth century. You've heard heard of "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle": Now meet "Gertie, Queen of the Desert" as portrayed by an ever lovely and delicate Nicole Kidman in Werner Herzog's epic sandy biopic of English aristocrat Gertrude Bell, who became a sort of female Lawrence of Arabia when she was enthralled by the purity of the way of life of the Bedouin nomads of the middle eastern deserts and ventured on her own into the interior to study their cultures first hand and hob- nob with the sheiks despite strong objections by the British governors in Cairo and Baghdad. Along the way you'll also run into a gritty dropout Lawrence of Arabia who comes on like a skateboarder in drag and a bungling caricature of Winston Churchill falling all over himself as he attempts to mount a camel worried mainly about his lit cigar that got dumped in the process. See Fantastic sandune-scapes and the prettiest camels ever screened to fill out this vast portrait of the Middle East in World War I when the lines in the sand were drawn which stake out today's Arab Spring Nightmare. Topical background in view of today's headlines -- ISIS beheadings and incineration of hostages and all that, most lushly filmed in Morocco and Jordan with an extensive cast you will need a scorecard to keep track of and so long it feels like GWTW, but worth the patience it takes to sit through especially if you are a Werner Herzog unconditional and, like myself, a lover of camels. Quite beautiful to watch but it does take patience and should be provided with an intermission to break up the interminability. In the packed house press screening I attended on the first full day of the festival there was a steady trickle of walkouts after the halfway mark and sparse polite applause at the end. Might win something, however, because this is Herzog Lifework homage year in Berlin but is really overblown with many hoaky impersonations of Arab Shieks and Kidman -- though more radiant than ever -- is far too delicate a flower to portray the hardy desert survivor the real Gertrude Bell of the title (1868 - 1926) must have been -- and at forty a bit old to play a teenager and a young women in her twenties. INDIE-WIRE comment: The legendary filmmaker's first movie in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival in decades is a catastrophe. What gives? -- Well, sometimes something's gotta give ....

This film tells the story of a British woman who travels around Arabia to understand the life in the vast desert. She is undeterred by dangers of war, gangs and thieves. The last Warner Herzog film I watched was over ten years ago, and I did not enjoy the experience. "Queen of the Desert", fortunately, is way better than I expected it to be. The scenery of the desert is mesmerising, while the people it portrays are very interesting and very different from the Western civilisation. Cinematography is beautiful, and the film is hence a pleasant experience to watch. I also like the romance between Gertrude and the two gentlemen. It is rather unfortunate that her life is not rewarded with happiness on the romantic aspect. I enjoyed watching this film.

This a movie that elevates the spirit and expands your horizons. It invites to beautiful scenery of the desert and its people. Captivating music enhances your experience. You will be glad you spent two hours watching this movie, preferably with you significant other or a friend, as you will want to talk to somebody about it. You will also want to read a book about Gertrude Bell and about the Middle East after watching ... ideally visit there as well although most places (Syria, Iraq, Iran) are too dangerous to travel to. Needless to say if you are into zombies, senseless violence and action, you will be disappointed. By the way, as some have said this is probably the most accessible and viewer friendly film by W. Herzog ... I hope there are more to come. Lastly N. Kidman is a great actress and a treat to watch ... but it is true that she was neither the right age nor the right person for this role (too fragile). Still both my wife and me enjoyed her screen presence.

Although it's not Lawrence of Arabia, and Robert Pattinson suffers from O'Toole comparison, director Werner Herzog still brings to life the hitherto little-known heroine, Gertrude Bell (Nicole Kidman). Her exploits at the beginning of the 20th century helped cast a favorite light on Bedouins and Druses as she moved among them and helped negotiate the end-of-WWI land split in Arabia and environs. Herzog will have to suffer my criticism that remembers his crazed but magnetic wild men like Aguirre and Fitzcaraldo. Queen lacks the energy in his many stories of madmen like Aguirre. Here, while Nicole appears aristocratic and smart, she never rises above the thoughtful scholar or emerging anthropologist. Alas, too much is the time spent with the two loves of her life and not enough time among the tribes and diplomats she had to corral to get her inside unknown territory. Why must women in movies still be defined by the men they love? Herzog is not at his best with virtually half the film watching her dance around the Tehran Embassy diplomat, Henry Cadogan (James Franco), and the British officer, Charles Doughty-Wylie (Damian Lewis). Herzog misses the more romantic possibilities of her involvement in the war effort in favor of two not very interesting romances. That her loves tend toward their suicide hints at the powerful woman who could have sparked these annihilations. Kidman, a fine actress who gives a nuanced performance here, is mostly directed to play coy more than adventuresome.

A film worth seeing, explains the birth of present middle east. A visionary feast and both Nicole Kidman and James Franco's acting is superb.Most critics didn't give it a thumbs up but for me it was a beautiful film, maybe because the lead was a woman who changed the course of history! For anyone who doesn't know anything about the middle east should see it just for history and Gertrude Bells significance in history.... The photography is exhilarating and get to see the desert and the oasis in their beauty. The movie might lack historical details but it focuses on Gertrude Bells life, so that is understandable. But at least for people who never knew what or how the middles east came about and what she did it is an eye opener. A must see file for me!

Having worked in Saudi Arabia, I was really looking forward to this film. But it fell short in just about every way. Historically it was dreadful (starting in 1914 and then "going back" 12 years - by my simply maths this is 1902 - to have a toast to Queen Victoria by an embassy official is nonsense since she had died in 1901!) The acting was hackneyed and Nicole Kidman, though trying very hard, was totally unconvincing. Numerous people have pointed out the howlers such as the wrong language being spoken, reading from left to right, and handling food with the left hand; and how on earth did she keep her skin lily-white while riding through the desert. At the very least she could have expected a somewhat red nose and face! But the main criticism must be the script which was so predictable and puerile and laughable and lacked depth in any way whatsoever. A great shame as much of the location and images were lovely - and I could even believe some of the scenes shot in Morocco and Jordan were actually shot in Saudi. If you like desert scenery you may well enjoy this film, just so long as you don't think for one moment this biopic reflects reality.