Friend of The Desert

An intimate portrait following Theodore Monod's last expedition in the Tibesti desert North of Tchad in 1997 before he died aged 98 in November 2000. This film pays tribute to the life and work of this exceptional scientist, philosopher and thinker of our time who devoted his life to natural and human sciences and became one of the most knowledgeable naturalist-explorer of the Saharan-Africa. In 1938 he founded the Institut Francais d'Afrique Noire in Dakar- Senegal and joined the National Museum of Natural History, becoming a professor there in 1946. Mingling exclusive footage of his expeditions and newsclips with more personal archives, this film retraces Monod's unique life itinerary as one of the last encyclopaedists and humanist of our time moved by the deepest respect for all living creatures and engaged in the fight for justice and peace. Let us share his knowledge and thoughts.

Upon victory in 1945, Britain still dominated the Middle East. She directly ruled Palestine and Aden, was the kingmaker in Iran, the power behind the thrones of Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, and protected the sultan of Oman and the Gulf sheikhs. But her motives for wanting to dominate this crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa were changing. Where 'imperial security' – control of the route to India – had once been paramount, now oil was an increasingly important factor. So, too, was prestige. Ironically, the very end of empire made control of the Middle East precious in itself: on it hung Britain's claim to be a great power.

The great silent screen lover Rudolph Valentino is captured in his most famous role in this special double feature. Women fainted in the aisles when "The Sheik" was released, as Lady Diana Mayo (Agnes Ayres) is carried into the desert by an Arab chieftain (Valentino) who takes one look at her and wants her, right then and there. Nobody had seen anything like Valentino's natural sex appeal on the screen before, and the sequel "The Son of the Sheik" was designed to revive Valentino's flagging career. In the sequel, Young Ahmed (Valentino) falls in love with Yasmin, a dancing girl (Vilma Banky), but he is captured and tortured by bandits.

For fans of Wilco, War on Drugs and Tom Petty!