Lawrence of Arabia

David Lean, 1962 (suom. "Arabian Lawrence")

The exceptional greatness of this film is the character of the main protagonist, no matter how realistically he models the real T. E. Lawrence. He is enigmatic and philosophical and his character is quite the opposite that one is accustomed to witness in historical films of this type. I think Peter O'Toole succeeds wonderfully and the film wouldn't have made any special impression on me had it been acted differently. It truly makes one wonder what it takes from a man to be able to perform truly great deeds; being able to genuinely (without force) win the trust of a totally alien and hostile culture as their leader, and to actually unify warring tribes under the same flag.