As the World Turns

My favorite movie is “The Wind and the Lion,” based on a historical incident—the kidnapping of an American woman and her children by a Berber brigand in Morocco in 1904. The movie stars Sean Connery as the brigand and Candice Bergen as Mrs. Perdicaris, the victim of kidnapping. There are many elements that I like about this movie – the desert setting, the horses, and the contrast of the unfamiliar culture of the East with the staid culture of the West. That is a fascination that started for me when I was very young and saw movies like “The Desert Song” and “Kismet.” I like the score of “The Wind and the Lion” so much that I bought the soundtrack. I like the way the kidnapped woman handles herself in this situation and wins the respect of her kidnapper. She is not a simpering captive but stands up for herself and her children. To me, this is a love story. The scene where Sean Connery is first seen in the courtyard, after the initial attack and taking of hostages, is electric. A friend of mine pointed out to me, though, that there is no traditional romance and not even a kiss in this movie. While I focus on the relationship between the two main characters, she sees it as the story of how Mrs. Perdicaris’ young son, who also is kidnapped, comes to idolize the brigand. Either way, “The Wind and the Lion” is a movie that I enjoy watching because it takes me to a different place and time, contemplating life and relationships as they were then.