I don't know why this film did not even come to the Tucson area (possibly because it was made overseas), but it is a great film about the beginning of the oil industry in the early 1900s in Arabia. Oil was found by an American company out of Houston, Texas, on a piece of land that the tribes had designated common area after many wars. Two main chieftains—one played by Antonio Banderas (the more greedy and less noble Emir) and the very noble Sultan chieftain (played by Mark Strong)—have different ideas of the future of Arabia and the oil industry. The Sultan has two sons, who he gives to the Emir to seal the peace. The one son falls in love with the Emir's daughter (Freida Pinto) as they grow up, and he also falls in love with Liya Kebede, who plays a wild but courageous warrioress. He becomes a great leader of many tribes and has to choose between the two women. It is based on a true story; Tahar Rahim.
~Van of Urantia*MPAA = Motion Picture Association of America
