The title of this film misleadingly gives the impression that it is going to be about oil. It is not. Even though it is set against the background of the Arab nations as emerging gold producers, it is actually about resistance to, and embracing of, change, as embodied in the leadership of two tribes at odds over an area of oil bearing land, and the son of one of the leaders who is caught up in the middle.
Prince Auda (Tahar Rahim) is the son of Sultan Amar (Mark Strong), but has been brought up as a hostage in the household of more powerful rival Emir Nesib (Antonio Banderas) and, having reached adulthood, has married Nesib's daughter Leyla (Freida Pinto). Returning to his father after 15 years, he sees an opportunity to bring an end to the conflict between the two tribes: old-school Amar wants the oil wells to be shut down, materialistic Nesib likes money. However, it proves difficult to avert conflict, and Auda's tactical march across the desert leading a band of convicts disguised as soldiers proves to be eventful.
This Arab-financed movie is tricky to sum up. It is a sprawling epic, with some stunning visuals of desert and battles, but it never really captures a sense of grandeur or significance. It addresses the difference between traditionalists and modernisers (and, more pertinently, those who twist the Koran to mean what they want it to mean and those who try for a more straightforward interpretation), but comes to no conclusion - but then, how could it? And it contains a mish-mash of performances. Rahim's Auda is engaging, but does not command the screen. Strong's Amar is the most convincing character, mixing dignity, strength, responsibility, traditionalism and love together with the necessary hardness of someone in his position. Banderas, hugely amusing, plays Nesib as a pantomime villain: if he had moustachios, he would twirl them. Pinto is hardly in it, apart from a gratuitous sex scene. By far the most entertaining turn comes from Riz Ahmed as Auda's half brother Ali.
This film holds the attention throughout its 130 minutes, but doesn't leave much of a mark afterwards.
Prince Auda (Tahar Rahim) is the son of Sultan Amar (Mark Strong), but has been brought up as a hostage in the household of more powerful rival Emir Nesib (Antonio Banderas) and, having reached adulthood, has married Nesib's daughter Leyla (Freida Pinto). Returning to his father after 15 years, he sees an opportunity to bring an end to the conflict between the two tribes: old-school Amar wants the oil wells to be shut down, materialistic Nesib likes money. However, it proves difficult to avert conflict, and Auda's tactical march across the desert leading a band of convicts disguised as soldiers proves to be eventful.
This Arab-financed movie is tricky to sum up. It is a sprawling epic, with some stunning visuals of desert and battles, but it never really captures a sense of grandeur or significance. It addresses the difference between traditionalists and modernisers (and, more pertinently, those who twist the Koran to mean what they want it to mean and those who try for a more straightforward interpretation), but comes to no conclusion - but then, how could it? And it contains a mish-mash of performances. Rahim's Auda is engaging, but does not command the screen. Strong's Amar is the most convincing character, mixing dignity, strength, responsibility, traditionalism and love together with the necessary hardness of someone in his position. Banderas, hugely amusing, plays Nesib as a pantomime villain: if he had moustachios, he would twirl them. Pinto is hardly in it, apart from a gratuitous sex scene. By far the most entertaining turn comes from Riz Ahmed as Auda's half brother Ali.
This film holds the attention throughout its 130 minutes, but doesn't leave much of a mark afterwards.