dir. David Lean (1962)
Contemporary in history to Reds, another biopic – this time based on T.E. Lawrence’s account of his time fighting the Ottoman empire. Lawrence, given a stunning performance by Peter O’Toole, is a naïve adventurer desperate to escape his own mundanity and demons. Manipulated at every turn by power brokers, never clear if his allies are inspired by him or humouring, Lawrence regardless manages be a key player in a people’s struggle. Again similar to Reds, the film’s long runtime allows for events to play out in several major parts, showing Lawrence’s steep ascent in prominence as well as his long decline.