Set in the expanse of the Sudan desert in the midst of holy war, Khartoum (1966) plays like an attempt to work the Lawrence of Arabia magic on the (mostly) true story of eccentric British general Charles "Chinese" Gordon in 1884 North Africa. The magnificent opening desert battle suggests David Lean's epic sweep, at least until the film settles into a more modest story of political games, military standoffs, and a battle of wits and wiles between two fierce leaders. Charlton Heston plays the wily Christian soldier as cocky, unconventional maverick, and Laurence Olivier (behind heavy make-up and a thick black beard) is almost as good as his cagey nemesis the Mahdi, the Islamic holy warrior on a mission of annihilation. More talk than spectacle, the film falls short of Lawrence but is nonetheless a compelling story of colonial politics, cynical maneuvering, and the unconventional heroics of another colorful British maverick abroad
Basil Dearden, Eliot Elisofon 1966
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Under a shaggy Muslim beard, Anthony Quinn stars as Omar Mukhtar, the Arab hero and guerilla fighter who defended Libya against Benito Mussolini and Italy's attempted conquests during World War II.
Director: Moustapha Akkad 1979
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"The Message" tells of the beginnings of the Moslem religion. A compelling drama about an ancient and venerable culture.
Director: Moustapha Akkad 1977
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Tragedy in the Holy Land: The Second Uprising focuses on the conflict in the Middle East exclusively from the point of view of the Palestinian people. Using standard documentary techniques, such as news footage, interviews with scholars, and commentary by visitors to the region, the long history of the conflict is chronicled in some detail. However, the film's content is so heavily slanted that it comes off as a strident denunciation of Israel and Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The anecdotal evidence offered is often dramatic, but without a balanced airing of some very controversial material, a viewer really has no sound basis upon which to decide what is true and what is propaganda. It can be commendable to present material that may not be well publicized, and there's nothing wrong with a documentary advocating a point of view. However, this video raises more questions than it answers.
2001
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