Set in the 1930s Arabian Peninsula, the story follows two rival sultans, Emir Nesib (Antonio Banderas) and Sultan Amar (Mark Strong). After years of peace maintained by a "no man's land" called the Yellow Belt, the discovery of oil by Texans threatens to reignite their conflict. The heart of the story focuses on Auda (Tahar Rahim), a bookish prince who must transform into a leader to unite the tribes. Key Cast: Tahar Rahim as Prince Auda Antonio Banderas as Emir Nesib Mark Strong as Sultan Amar Freida Pinto as Princess Leyla
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, this 2011 epic historical drama is based on Hans Ruesch's 1957 novel South of the Heart: A Novel of Modern Arabia . It is often described as a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and There Will Be Blood . Il principe del deserto
It features a score by the legendary Ennio Morricone and stars screen icon Omar Sharif . Comparison of the Two Works 2011 Film ( Black Gold ) 1991 Movie/Series ( Beyond Justice ) Director Jean-Jacques Annaud Duccio Tessari Primary Genre Historical Epic / Drama Action / Thriller Main Star Tahar Rahim / Antonio Banderas Rutger Hauer / Carol Alt Composer James Horner Ennio Morricone Themes Oil discovery, tradition vs. modernity Kidnapping, rescue, cultural clash Il trailer italiano del Principe del Deserto - IMDb Set in the 1930s Arabian Peninsula, the story
Originally a 300-minute, three-part miniseries for the Italian channel Canale 5, it was later edited into a feature-length film titled Beyond Justice (also known as Maktub or Law of the Desert ). Key Cast: Tahar Rahim as Prince Auda Antonio
This version is an action-thriller about an American woman (Carol Alt) whose son is kidnapped by his father (a Moroccan prince) and taken to the desert. She hires a mercenary (Rutger Hauer) to help her retrieve the boy.
Before the 2011 film, there was a major Italian-American television production titled Il principe del deserto , directed by Duccio Tessari.