"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)

There are movies that are “must loves” for people who want to be taken serious as film lovers. And it seems like a lot of them are not particularly lovable to me. “Lawrence of Arabia” is one of them. I can appreciate its amazing cinematography. But beyond that, I am left dry. And, yes, the fact that it assumes we will love the desert is a big part of that. I do not really love the world presented to us in this story. The problem I have with a lot of biopics is present here as well: the story has been changed a lot. Even there, though, it hasn’t been changed in a way that makes it more appealing. The claim that this man was a real-life Indiana Jones doesn’t sway me because they didn’t play those aspects of his life up. Instead, they make a very long movie where very little ever happens.

So, if you want my “film lover” membership card, you can have it.

But there are two things that fascinate me in this story.

First, the way that Lawrence lives out a cross-cultural journey in a way that feels real. Anyone who has dedicated their life to living in a culture that is not their own can testify to this. Lawrence falls in love with his adopted culture, but he never truly fits in.

Second, the specific sequence of events where Lawrence (1) leads the army across the impossible desert, (2) turns back risking his to save a man from certain death, and then (3) acts decisively to save the tribal confederation he has brought together, is an amazing story within the story. Lawrence’s journey to greatness imposes (or exposes) very serious flaws within him. He has to sacrifice very personal values and ethics to serve a greater purpose. It is a common question in the lives of “great” men. How “dirty” is one willing to become to achieve a “greater” good? Is any sacrifice worth the evils such men are willing to embrace?

While we’re at it, I think I’ll turn in my long-shot chance to be such a man.