Video Review: Lion Of The Desert

This masterpiece brings forth the historical era, prior to World War II, of Italy's colonial war in Libya, and Omar Mukhtar's uncompromising struggle to fight his oppressors. Not an easy film to make, it begins with documentary footage that adds to the historical drama that it is to relate.

Brilliant planning was required to put together all of the battle scenes - a difficult task in the middle of the desert. Entire villages were built in the heart of nowhere, and the film had a cast and crew of about 400.

The setting is 1929, and dictator Benito Mussolini has recently ascended to power. There is a problem, though, in the Italian colony of Libya where there has been, up till this point, a long struggle to conquer the vast area.

More specifically, for twenty years, Bedouin revolutionaries have waged a war to oust their Italian conquerors and they are still not ready to give up or sell out. Their leader is 73-year old Omar Mukhtar, a teacher-made-fighter, who has taught his fellow revolutionaries the meaning of courage and bravery. He has been fighting against the Italians since the very beginning, and has put up a strong resistance over the years.

However, some of his comrades are sucked into the colonial invasion, selling out for the cause of peace - even at the price of living subjugated. Mukhtar refuses to be conquered, arguing that their land has been inhumanely taken away from them and that it is their God-given right to resist such injustice.

Benito Mussolini, played by look-alike Rod Steiger, appoints a new Italian governor of Libya, General Rodolfo Graziani (Oliver Reed), warning him that five previous governors have failed miserably in putting an end to Mukhtar's resistance movement. Believing that he can capture Mukhtar and end the resistance, Graziani sets out to surpass his predecessors. Little does he understand Mukhtar's deep conviction, inspired by his religious beliefs, to fight the Italian oppression.

It is this deep conviction and his willingness to die for what he believes in that keeps Mukhtar's resistance alive and flowing. He never once compromises his beliefs - not when Italian officials meet with him to discuss a peace plan and he defends his position, reminding them that he and his people are the victims of their oppression. Nor when they offer him money in exchange for his submission, which he takes as the ultimate insult.

Lion of the Desert is an accurate portrayal of a dreadful period in Italy's history when they unrightfully possessed the Libyan people's land - yet another example of Europe's colonialist expansion into foreign territory. Director Akkad depicts the horrific reality quite masterfully, illustrating the cruelty of the Italian oppressors to its fullest - we see the Italian army take over a village and burn it down. We see men executed, crops burned, and civilians killed.

Nevertheless, Mukhtar never once sells out his cause; even when he is in the hands of his enemies, he refuses to beg for his life. He is ready to die for his cause; death represents victory. He asks the Italian government to not lie to his people and tell them that he asked for his life to be spared.

Overall, Lion of the Desert is a clean movie to watch. Rated PG, it contains virtually no profanity; however, there are graphic war scenes and brutality. There are many Islamic messages in this movie about an important Islamic revolutionary who was a former teacher of the Qur'an. The film is one of the best portrayals of a colonialist war. Although it has not received the international recognition that it deserves, Lion of the Desert meets all of the requirements of a noteworthy film. It has an excellent cast, appropriate costume design, and a high quality musical score.