Lawrence of Arabia: The Battle for the Arab World

T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935) was an enigmatic hero, as difficult to pin down as the shifting sands in the deserts he so much loved. James Hawes' PBS-aired biopic presents the story of the real Lawrence of Arabia, a man embarrassed by his illegitimate birth and short stature, fascinated by the Crusades, and destined (he believed) to help free the Arab nations from Turkish domination. Combining rare archival footage and commentary from East and West scholars and eyewitnesses, the film follows Lawrence from his early archaeological work in the Middle East, through the outbreak of World War I, when the Arabic fight against Germany's ally Turkey gave Lawrence a stage and "a game worth playing." Depicted here as a bit of a poser and a man of divided identities and loyalties--though his commitment to Arab liberation seemed steadfast--Lawrence had a gift for leadership, evidenced by his role in helping Arab armies capture the port at Aqaba, hailed as a brilliant military maneuver. Ultimately, however, he was betrayed by the imperial ambitions of Britain and France, and was consumed by guilt for the rest of his relatively short life. Opening a window into Lawrence's complex, tortured soul, including hints that he was a repressed homosexual, this program is a valuable companion to the famous 1962 David Lean feature film, offering a fuller treatment of Lawrence's last years, after he left Arabia. Lavishly filmed on exotic locations, with dramatic recreations and informative, insightful commentary, the DVD also includes a “making of” featurette and an interview with director Hawes. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)