As all the cinema fans know, there are two very different versions of this story. I have to confess I just saw the one directed by David Lean, back in 1962, casted by Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn. It's certainly a colonial vision of the Arab world, but who could expect something different, by the time and place the film was made? In spite of that fact, the film had some qualities for trying to understand the inner drama of such a complex character as Mr. Lawrence, a material man caught in the meanders of History, divided between two loyalties: the British Empire and the sympathy for the rising of Arab rebelion against the Ottoman domination.
Sent by the authorities of his own country to support the insurgents, for reasons that had nothing to do with the Arab cause (real politics, they call it), Lawrence was not, at all, a typical English man. But somewhere there, in the heart of the Islamic Civilizations, he did find such a new vision of things that he started to doubt and hesitate about his mission.
He knew, very well, how hypocritical the British intentions were. And he knew, as well, the Arab leaders were more interested in deffending their privileged position than the people they were suposed to protect. But somewhere in his traject, the fascination for the Arab culture, the contact with the wilderness of the Deserts and the humility of the sons of Islam in face of «the ocean of sand», made him learn learn to respect the local tribes, and brought him to the difficult position of making choices.
The anguish of knowing that in the end he had, necessarily, to betray one of the sides, did chase him until the end of his adventure and even further than that. In spite of a delineation of rebelion against his own fatherland, he made the most predictable choice and abandoned the Arabs to their destination, not without remorse. Once back in England, he wrote his memories paying a late tribute to all he learned amongst the Arabs. «The Seven Pillars of Wisdom», name of that book, is still telling us much more than the typical western vision of that part of the world, and is still a good example of how easy should be to understand our sisters and brothers that were born under other climat, other Religion, other language and Culture. A definitive prove, for those that still need it, that no human should be seen as a foreigner, for sometimes our heart can become, somewhere in our life's journey, bigger than the world...
Sent by the authorities of his own country to support the insurgents, for reasons that had nothing to do with the Arab cause (real politics, they call it), Lawrence was not, at all, a typical English man. But somewhere there, in the heart of the Islamic Civilizations, he did find such a new vision of things that he started to doubt and hesitate about his mission.
He knew, very well, how hypocritical the British intentions were. And he knew, as well, the Arab leaders were more interested in deffending their privileged position than the people they were suposed to protect. But somewhere in his traject, the fascination for the Arab culture, the contact with the wilderness of the Deserts and the humility of the sons of Islam in face of «the ocean of sand», made him learn learn to respect the local tribes, and brought him to the difficult position of making choices.
The anguish of knowing that in the end he had, necessarily, to betray one of the sides, did chase him until the end of his adventure and even further than that. In spite of a delineation of rebelion against his own fatherland, he made the most predictable choice and abandoned the Arabs to their destination, not without remorse. Once back in England, he wrote his memories paying a late tribute to all he learned amongst the Arabs. «The Seven Pillars of Wisdom», name of that book, is still telling us much more than the typical western vision of that part of the world, and is still a good example of how easy should be to understand our sisters and brothers that were born under other climat, other Religion, other language and Culture. A definitive prove, for those that still need it, that no human should be seen as a foreigner, for sometimes our heart can become, somewhere in our life's journey, bigger than the world...
(Dedicated to my dear friend Alla Eldinasour with my best wishes of a quick recovery).
Lawrence of Arabia «Filmes da minha vida». por Sir Frankie Goethe Wally Wood
Lawrence of Arabia «Filmes da minha vida». por Sir Frankie Goethe Wally Wood
Todos os fãs de cinema sabem que existem duas versões deste filme. Tenho de confessar que só conheço a que foi realizada por David Lean, em 1962, tendo Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness e Anthony Quinn. Trata-se decerto de uma visão colonialista do Mundo Árabe, mas que outra coisa se poderia esperar de um filme produzido nesta época? Apesar deste facto, o filme possui algumas qualidades, por tentar compreender o drama interior de um carácter tão complexo como o do senhor Lawrence, um homem de carne e osso, armadilhado pelos meandros da História e dividido entre duas lealdades opostas: ao Império britânico e à crescente revolta Árabe contra o domínio Otomano. Enviado pelas autoridades do seu País para apoiar esta insurreição, por razões que nada tinham a ver com a simpatia pela causa Árabe, Lawrence não era um típico inglês. Aí, no âmago dessas Civilizações, ele adquiriu uma visão tão radicalmente nova desse estranho mmundo que o seu coração começou a hesitar quanto aos propósitos iniciais. Ele não ignorava, como é evidente, a hipocrisia dos propósitos dos seus chefes, no apoio que prestavam aos diferentes líderes e povos Árabes. E também sabia que estes líderes estavam mais ocupados em defender os seus postos do que em proteger os respectivos povos. Mas o fascínio pela cultura Árabe, o contacto com a imensidão dos desertos e a humildade dos filhos do Islão diante de tão esmagadora paisagem, fez-lhe ganhar o respeito por aqueles povos, colocando-o numa posição de difícil escolha. A angústia de saber que teria de trair um dos lados assombrou-o até ao fim da sua aventura e para lá dela. Apesar de um esboço de revolta contra a sua própria Pátria, acabou por fazer a mais previsível das escolhas, mas não sem remorso. De volta a Inglaterra, escreveu as suas memórias como um último tributo aos Árabes que aprendera a respeitar. Os «sete Pilares da Sabedoria», assim se chama o livro, ensina-nos muito mais do que a visão ocidental de um mundo que o seu povo achava desinteressante, pois ainda é um bom exemplo de como seria fácil entender os que nasceram sob outra Cultura, outro Clima, outra Religião e outra Língua. A prova definitiva, (para quem dela ainda necessita) que nenhum humano é estrangeiro, porque o nosso coração pode muito bem, num qualquer ponto do nosso percurso, tornar-se maior que o mundo...
(Dedicado ao meu caro amigo Alla Eldinasour com os meus desejos de uma total e rápida recuperação da sua convalescença).
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