This 90
minute film, currently available via BBC iPlayer, (also available to buy) tells
the amazing and dramatic story of Gertrude Bell who worked tirelessly to get
the British Empire to do the right thing in the Middle East during and
following World War I. The two features are the incredible story of her life
and the vivid historical photographs. I highly recommend it. The narrator takes
you on a journey through Gertrude's life where she expounds on the critically
and globally important issues of the day Whilst painting beautiful word
pictures of the magic of the orient and life as it was during the decline of
the Ottoman Empire and later in sharp contrast the stark reality of World War
I. The film goes on describe the creation of new countries and rulers in the
post-war period set against the hard commercialism of the British and American
scramble for possession of oil rights.
Gertrude
was a contemporary of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) but far more
influential. Sadly she has been almost completely written out of history. In
large part, this film tells her story by the narrator reading from Gertrude’s
letters set against a backcloth of original photographic and film footage from
the period. Just seeing these Edwardian and wartime images and films is an
historic feast in itself. If you want to see what Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo and the
amazing ruins at places like Babylon & Palmyra were like just watch this
film. The real Orient Express is also depicted with scenes at Istanbul and
Baghdad. Despite the black-and-white imagery the desert scenes are stunning!
There is also amazing footage from scenes in London and Paris. It's an
historians delight!
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+VicIent/posts/ATtR7wLLLg8
