As a cinephile with a soft spot for historical epics and a keen interest in Middle Eastern cinema, I am thrilled about the 4K restoration of “Lion of the Desert” premiering at this year’s Cairo Film Festival. Having had the pleasure of watching Moustapha Akkad’s earlier masterpiece, “The Message,” I can attest to his ability to breathe life into grand narratives and create visually stunning films that transport viewers to another time and place.
This week, a rejuvenated 4K version of the 1981 movie “Lion of the Desert” will debut at the Cairo Film Festival. This epic story portrays Benito Mussolini’s struggle to quell the Libyan uprising against Italian fascist rule. Starring Oliver Reed and Anthony Quinn, this film was brought to life by Syrian-American director Moustapha Akkad. You can watch a sneak peek of the movie in the trailer provided below.
The restoration project was handled by Trancas International Films, Deluxe in London, and Private Island Sound in Hollywood. This meticulous process brought to life the majesty of the desert landscapes and intense battle sequences, as well as Maurice Jarre’s iconic score. Malek Akkad, son of Moustapha Akkad, discussed the restoration with EbMaster: “This was a deeply personal project for me. The restoration encompassed three of my father’s films – ‘The Message,’ ‘Ar-Risalah,’ and ‘Lion of the Desert.’ Each film is more than three hours long, making the process incredibly lengthy. It took over three years in total. We had to scan every frame, repair any scratches or imperfections, improve the color grading, and remix the sound. It was a significant amount of work, but the final outcome made it all worthwhile.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I see the importance of film restoration in a vast cultural context: “Revitalizing films such as ‘Lion of the Desert’ is all about safeguarding a piece of our global cultural legacy. These movies narrate ageless tales of human perseverance and the pursuit of justice. By breathing new life into them through restoration, we ensure their continued impact on future generations, serving as a reminder of the historical events that have molded our world.
In the movie, Reed portrays General Graziani, assigned by Mussolini, played by Rod Steiger, to suppress the Berber and Libyan Arab uprising that threatened Mussolini’s scheme for creating what was dubbed the Fourth Shore, a planned settlement intended to rejuvenate a new Roman Empire. Quinn takes on the role of the main rebel leader, Omar al-Mukhtar, who rallies local forces against the Italians, with John Gielgud joining the cast. Upon its premiere, Vincent Canby from the New York Times praised it as “spectacular”. However, in Italy, it was banned in 1982, as then Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti argued that it tarnished the reputation of the Italian military. The film wouldn’t be aired on Italian TV until 2009, during a significant state visit from Muammar Gaddafi to Italy. It’s worth noting that Gaddafi’s government funded the production of the film in 1981.
Initially creating and overseeing “The Message” in 1976, Moustapha Akkad went on to experience tremendous success by producing John Carpenter’s “Halloween” in 1978 and numerous other films within the series. At the moment of his passing in 2005, he was preparing to direct a film centered around Saladin and the Crusades, with Sean Connery set to star.
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2024-11-13 17:47