Lion of the Desert: Movie Summery and Analysis

'Lion Of The Desert' Movie Summary

Between two world wars, a struggle for freedom took place in Libya within the African desert. The movie 'Lion of the Desert", is a historically accurate story about the Libyan resistance leader, Omar Mukhtar, teacher by profession, guerilla by obligation. Mukhtar committed himself to a war that could not have been won in his own lifetime. He skillfully led the Libyan resistance against the Italian oppressors from 1911-1931. This movie takes place during the reign of Mussolini, and it shows the courage and dedication the rebels had in order to fight for what they believed in what they knew was morally right. The end result was a massacre in the making.

Enraged by the 20-year war carried on by Beduin patriots opposed to the Italian occupation and colonization of their native lands. The arrogant Mussolini, the first of Europe's fascist dictators, orders his new military governor the ruthless Rodolfo Graziani to crush and silence the Beduin rebellion by whatever means and capture their great leader and teacher Omar Mukhtar.

This story of great courage and bravery begins in a Libyan township where Mukhtar and his people have comfortably established with homes and farmland. For over 20 years Mukhtar and his people have waged war against Italian soldiers, however Mukhtar is like a ghost to the Italians, nobody has seen him and nobody knows what he looks like. Italians soldiers soon invaded the rebel's settlement and murdered men they suspected ran with Mukhtar. Upon leaving the town they burned their food and supplies, and left the men, women and children with nothing but blood on their hands.

The rebel's tactics and fighting style were superior to the Italians since they grew up fighting in these exact deserts and mountains. Throughout the movie we watched the invaders attacking with war-planes, tanks, cannons and machine-guns, but we also see a fascinating portrayal of the heroic Libyan forces fighting the mighty Italian artillery with old rusted rifles, giving their life for their land and their convictions.

After the Italians invaded the town the rebels met up with the retreating Italian army and ambushed them. Mukhtar and his men killed most of the army except Lt. Sandrini. They told him to advise Mussolini that they do not belong in their country and should retreat immediately. After the rebels ambush, the Italians ordered the capture and detainment of all Libyan civilians into concentration camps, which resembled death camps. They Libyan people remained captives of the Italian government in their own country for years and rebels that resisted the Italian's were killed. Soon after the concentration camps were established the Italian leaders sent up a meeting with Mukhtar, in order to come to a peaceful resolution and a common cause to end the fighting. Mukhtar left the meeting with disgust and said he would continue his rebellion against the Italians until he and his people earned the ultimate freedom in their country. The Italians responded by bringing more troops and heavy machinery into the country to finally destroy the rebels. As the tension between the Italians and the rebels grew stronger they finally met once again and waged war with one another. The rebels used their tactics and out smarted the Italian army once again by destroying their forces. Despite heavy losses the Italian army took greater measures and stretched barbed wire all along the desert to eliminate the supply and escape routes for the rebels. Over time this greatly hurt them.

In a surge of battles that took place after the large scaled ambush against the Italians the great leader Omar Mukhtar was finally captured. He was brought to court, and accused of torturing and killing Italian soldiers; which he denied. Mukhtar was sentenced to death by hanging in front of his people. On this day the Libyan people lost a great leader and teacher who cared for one thing, freedom. Despite their bravery, the rebels suffered heavy losses, including women and children. Their primitive weaponry was no match for mechanized warfare; despite all this, they continued the fight, and managed to keep the Italians from achieving complete victory for twenty years.

Reading/Movie Analysis: The Mahdist Revolution

For centuries the people in the African nations where continually subjected to westerners looking to colonize their countries and to start a new life on the land that they grew up on. Over the years there were many battles that took place in colonial Africa, but the two most significant developed within the countries of Libya and Sudan. Both of these battles told the story of poor rebels fighting against large scaled and heavily armed armies. In a way they could be described as "David and Goliath" stories.

The Mahdist Revolution against the Egyptian colonizers succeeded because the Mahdist leader; Mohammed Ahmed effectively combined religious, economic and cultural appeals under a charismatic leadership to build a military force capable of defeating his enemies.

"What were the motives that drove Muhammad Ahmad to lead a revolt against the Egyptian administration in the Sudan?" "The Father of Independence, a nationalist leader who united the tribes of the Sudan by an Islamic ideology, drove out the alien rulers, and laid the foundations of a nation-state. This is an interpretation of the consequences of his revolt, rather than an appreciation of his motives." (Holt, Darcy, pg 87).

The initial revolt expanded following early military success, effective reforms, and the spread of the Mahdi's religious message throughout the Sudan. In comparison