'Queen of the Desert': Archeologist and spy ahead of her time
Werner Herzog's latest film, starring Nicole Kidman, tells of a woman who explored the Middle East 100 years ago: Archeologist Gertrude Bell. The film version, however, focuses more on her love life than her work.
Exploring the desert
Werner Herzog's historical epic about the British archeologist, writer and secret agent Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) is a period piece and cinematic biography. "Queen of the Desert" is the story of a woman who was ahead of her time. It opens in cinemas in Germany on September 3, 2015.
Intellectual and world traveler
Over a century ago, Gertrude Bell traveled many times to the Middle East and Western Asia. She worked as a researcher and archeologist, but after the war she was involved with the British secret service.
Two Brits in the Middle East
During her travels, Gertrude Bell met Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. In Herzog's film, Nicole Kidman plays Bell and heartthrob Robert Pattinson portrays archeologist and diplomat Lawrence (1888-1935).
Love in the desert
While Werner Herzog aims to stick to most of the historical facts, "Queen of the Desert" focuses more on melodrama than historical accuracy. British diplomat Henry Cadogan (played by James Franco), who falls in love with Bell, takes up a large chunk of the story, though he died young at the age of 40.
Not meant to be
Gertrude Bell then meets and falls for the married British diplomat Richard Wylie (played by "Homeland" star Damian Lewis). Again, her romance takes precedence over her work in Herzog's version of the story.
Star-studded history
One quickly gets the impression that "Queen of the Desert" is more about Nicole Kidman than Gertrude Bell. The Australian-American superstar is present in nearly every scene.