In the 1850s, explorer Sir Richard Burton (Patrick Bergin) enlists ambitious John Henning Speke (Iain Glenn) to help discover the source of the Nile River. Their initial trip falters after an ambush by hostile natives, but both men are adamant on returning. On their second expedition the men suffer much hardship, braving hostile climates, dangerous natives and disease. Speke locates the source at Lake Victoria, but can't confirm it without Burton's expertise. When Speke returns to England he's goaded to speak before the Royal Geographic Society. Speke becomes a celebrity taking credit, an affront Burton views as betrayal.
Explorers were Victorian England's premiere celebrities, mixing the awe-inspiring wonder of astronauts with the panache of rock stars. Motivated by personal ambition, Christian charity, scientific inquiry or simple curiosity, these men scoured Africa's "dark continent," charting rivers, mapping mountains and enduring horrendous hardship in pursuit of knowledge. The source of the Nile was the explorer's holy grail, a mystery unsolved since Herodotus. Burton and Speke were feted by English society, their books devoured by an adventure-hungry public, media covering (and exaggerating) their every move and statement. Yet as Mountains of the Moon painstakingly shows, these men earned every ounce of celebrity.
Mountains of the Moon dilutes its spectacle with hardship. Roger Deakins' photography paints an Africa beautiful but harsh, mixing arid scrub lands, raging rivers and torrential jungles. Native tribes are more frequently curious than hostile, though Burton gets caught in a tribal power struggle at one point. Nature and disease prove the biggest threat: lions menace the porters, Speke is deafened by a beetle crawling in his ear, while Burton's diseased legs swell to hideous size. The sheer physical toll is unbelievable.
Mountains frames its drama through apposite protagonists. Burton is a truly remarkable Renaissance man, fluent in 23 languages, a master of disguise (he infiltrated Mecca disguised as an Arab), a dab sword fighter and sensuous lover. Between voyages he pens memoirs, translates The Arabian Nights and romances Isabel Arundell (Fiona Shaw). He baffles prospective in-laws by extolling Eastern religions, and bonds with David Livingstone (Bernard Hill) by comparing scars. He represents an earthy, unorthodox breed of explorer, free of moral pretensions, absorbing native customs and viewing his travels as purely knowledge-based.
Speke is Burton's opposite. Priggish, presumptuous, disregarding African superstitions and endlessly ambitious, he represents English imperialism, using knowledge to expand empire and exploit its subjects. He matches Burton's tenacity but his amateurish methods cast doubt on his findings and frequently endanger his colleagues. He worships Burton with an affection bordering on love but proves eager to make his own name. That Speke's proven right about Lake Victoria seems almost incidental.
Rafelson and co-scripter Harrison cast this personal struggle against a broader backdrop. Burton's hedonism and Anglo-Irish background make him an embarrassment to the British establishment. Speke seems an ideal candidate for the conservative Royal Geographic Society, a proper gentleman explorer. Publisher Laurence Oliphant (Richard E. Grant) turns Speke against Burton through a lie. The Society arranges a debate between the two men, placing the two philosophies in direct opposition. Yet tragedy forestalls their clash, leaving posterity to judge the protagonists.
Of course, Mountains isn't the last word in historical accuracy. Tim Jeal's book Explorers of the Nile argues Speke deserves the lion's share of credit, with Burton posthumously smearing his partner's image. Even pro-Burton authors like Alan Moorehead point up his racism and throbbing ego, traits conspicuously absent from the film portrayal. But Rafelson can't be faulted for effective dramatic license.
Patrick Bergin gives Burton a perfect mix of intelligence, swaggering independence and fortitude. Iain Glenn flawlessly captures Speke's obsessive ambition and ultimate regret. Fiona Shaw invests Isabel with fiery devotion and playful sexuality. Paul Onsongo makes an endearing Man Friday while Delroy Lindo provides a striking debut. They're backed by a rich supporting cast: Richard E. Grant (The Iron Lady), Bernard Hill (Valkyrie), Roshan Seth (Gandhi), Anna Massey (Peeping Tom), Peter Vaughan (Straw Dogs), James Villiers (The Ruling Class) and Roger Rees (TV's The West Wing). Omar Sharif appears unbilled.
Mountains of the Moon is a vastly underrated movie. Without eschewing the spectacle of a traditional epic, it frames Victorian exploration as a personal tragedy.
No comments:
Post a Comment