Queen of the Desert (2015)

it's much better than some critics say...Fantastic production values & locations, great cinematography, good cast, interesting story, good music. It's such a beautifully photographed film, that you forgive the flaws. And, yes, this is definitely a Herzog film.

Nicole Kidman is good in the lead, but it's not a showy performance because Bell simply wasn't a showy or spectacular person. Kidman's a little too old for playing 'young Gertrude Bell' at the beginning, but in the second half the age is right for the older Bell. James Franco has a nice supporting turn. He seems a little too young for their relationship, but his performance is just fine.

I think, that some people have problems with the rather slow, classical style of the film and the little interest in psychology, but it's pure Herzog. I've seen nearly all his films and they are always told in this tableaux-style, one powerful image after another. He never was interested in people's psychology like Bergman. But it's all there, you just need to dig a little deeper, because it's more distant. The best way to watch this movie - or any film by Herzog - is to see it as a big book with breathtaking illustrations and some text, but you never want to read the text because the images are so compelling.

The difference to other Herzog films is that his lead here is a peaceful, educated, diplomatic lady - such a character is surely not as spectacular as "Aguirre" or "Bad Lieutenant". She's a 'sane' character in a foreign world, not an 'insane or naive character in an insane world' like in most other Herzog films. Insanity is probably more entertaining and memorable in movies, so Gertrude Bell is an outcast among Herzog's 'freaks' in that she's no freak at all.

But she's still an outsider in society - something all Herzogian (anti) heroes have in common.

Epic films about female heroes are rare and this one delivers the goods, but in a quiet way. It's a rather meditative and peaceful film about exploring the unknown and building relations in another culture. It's not preachy, but it has a political subtext that's relevant for today: Like Getrude Bell people from another culture should try to understand 'the other' and build bridges. Since most people are anti-Arabic or even anti-Islam these days and always find the solution in violence instead of diplomatic negotiation, I found this respectful approach refreshing.

But Americans, who only associate with the orient ISIS or Al-Qaida or Muslim fundamentalists, will hate this movie, because it questions their prejudices.

It's not a political film, rather a romantic adventure. It's never cheesy or kitsch, because even the romantic parts are told in a low-key and humorous way.

In it's best moments it becomes visual poetry about desert life.

It's sometimes slow, but never boring. It's sometimes stiff, but never theater. The casting is a little off in some parts, but it doesn't take you out of the story. It's an epic in the traditional sense, but it feels real enough to suspend disbelief. The sand storms looks real because they are real, not like in "The English Patient" where it's obviously FX.

It has some of the most beautiful desert imagery, I've ever seen! (And I saw "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Sheltering Sky", "Gallipoli", "The English Patient"…) The desert is beautiful and attractive, but deadly at the same time.

Like in all Herzog films (even "Bad Lieutenant" - The destroyed New Orleans reflects the corrupt anti-hero) the environment and landscapes are a metaphor for the inner world of the main character. Gertrude Bell's existential loneliness and desire freedom can be felt in the desert.

Check it out!