Film by Werner Herzog: Young woman fears no heat – Frankfurter Neue Presse

Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) explored at the beginning of the 20th century in numerous expeditions the culture of the Middle East and took over after the First World War as an advisor to the British government an important role in the new political order in the region. She has worked among others with the British secret service. Filmmaker Werner Herzog (“Fitzcarraldo,” “Aguirre, the Wrath of God”) characterizes his extraordinary and dazzling protagonist as the heroine and maybe playing a bit too confidently on the keyboard great adventure films in the style of “Lawrence of Arabia”. The latter has in the form of Robert Pattinson even a few little cameos.

Image Zoom Photo: PROKINO / QOTD film Investment Ltd.. 2013 (Berlin International Film Festival; QOTD film investment L)

The archaeologist Gertrude (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, the diplomat Henry (James Franco) in the desert.

“Please send ‘me away from here,” the young adventurous Gertrude begs her father, a prosperous iron manufacturers, and it lands in the British Embassy in Tehran, where they not only contact for Persian culture, but also to the charming diplomat Henry Cadogan (James Franco) receives, which is the love of her life – though the father forbids the marriage because Cadogan is a player and has debts. With a slight nod Herzog directs this highly romantic love story in paradisiacal gardens with birds chirping and everything your heart desires. The loss of her lover (who on horseback gets pneumonia and dies) is to drive the adventuress who now can not make any more rules and the deserts of the Middle East in the midst of a world political upheaval explored.

Nicole Kidman, who already gained experience in epic cinema format in Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia”, is the figure size, without neglecting the emotional fine adjustments. However credible it acts neither as a bather at the oasis, while still a prisoner in Arab castles. For Duke directing style is just too self-absorbed and the head between the desired monumental epic and the lean format that you get to see on the screen, but too big. From veteran who has made with megalomaniac works cinema history, one would have expected a little less conventional film adaptation of a life story. Acceptable