Werner Herzog speaks his mind on Lawrence of Arabia

It's regarded a masterpiece of world cinema, ranked highly on many lists of the best films ever made.

But according to legendary director and scriptwriter Werner Herzog Lawrence of Arabia is "not really that good any more".

His somewhat controversial outpouring at a Dubai International Film Festival press conference yesterday was all in support of the Arab world.

"The Arabic world is depicted as very stupid, it [Lawrence of Arabia] is not really that good any more if you watch it today," he said.

"Lawrence of Arabia doesn't portray the Arab world in a good way."

With a career spanning more than 50 years, Herzog is often considered one of the greatest figures of New German Cinema.

The topic of David Lean's 1962 film, set in Jordan, came up after Herzog revealed his next film was in pre-production stages of shooting in this region.

"It is a project I have written a script for," he explained slowly. "It's about the life of Gertrude Bell" — a woman he went on to describe as the female equivalent of Lawrence of Arabia. "It is an epic film. It will take a long time."

Working with a local producer, who is visiting Dubai with Herzog, the 69-year-old said he was learning everything he could about the Arab world. "I'm educating myself about the region, about Islam, about [the] Bedouin," he said. "About the dignity of the Arabian world. This is something which you cannot learn from Lawrence of Arabia. It does not show what is true of today. That's what I mean."

The film will be partly shot in Jordan but Herzog hopes the UAE can be featured in some way.

"I know there are wonderful deserts here. The country has great possibilities and beauty. But it's not only about landscapes," he added after some thought. "The film needs its infrastructure. When you have a city of such modernity, systems in place, that is always very inviting when making a film. Unfortunately, I cannot film in the city itself as it's a period piece. But it would be wonderful to explore this city in another film maybe. Dubai is a complete dream which has materialised.

"It's very much business but ultimately it's a dream."

Somehow Herzog is the only person who could utter the words, "it's a vision like that of a poet. It's poetry that all of a sudden materialises," without a snigger from the audience. He garners respect through film, pictures and the spoken word.

On Monday night, Herzog was honoured at Diff with a lifetime achievement award and he made it clear that retirement was not on his agenda.

‘This is not my funeral'

"This does not mean I am done yet. This is not my funeral," said Herzog to thunderous applause. Herzog joins veteran Egyptian actor Jameel Rateb and Indian music composer A.R. Rahman in receiving Diff's top honour this year.

To substantiate his claim, Herzog said that he completed six projects this year and is back to acting after his two-day shoot with Hollywood hero Tom Cruise.

"Some of you may know that I have eventually worked as an actor. I am a little bit late at the festival, but I just finished two nights' shoot in Pittsburgh. I play a bad guy together with Tom Cruise. In other words I am not done yet," said Herzog.

Herzog was more nonchalant about the filming when he spoke on Tuesday. "It was some acting I did in Pittsburgh which I finished just 10 days ago," he said. "I like working with people from Hollywood." The film called, One Shot, also stars Rosamund Pike and Robert Duvall

A conversation with Herzog is as inspiring as many of the movies he is internationally-renowned for making. Moving effortlessly between fiction and non-fiction narratives, the German regularly chooses to shoot in remote and often inhospitable terrain.

A trademark is usually heroes with impossible dreams, people with unique talents in obscure fields, or individuals who find themselves in conflict with nature.

His latest offering is Into the Abyss, a thought-provoking documentary about a man on death row. Herzog is quick to answer when asked how he came up with the title. "It could have been the title of at least a dozen of my films," he said, laughing. "Into the Abyss," he said out loud, his head in his hand. "It was strange looking back," and with that he cleverly digressed. "It's not so much about death row. It's mostly a film about a senseless crime and all the ramifications of this crime. Of course it follows someone on death row — and all the people around that person. But it's more about a crime gone wrong and the tapestry created."

Herzog has always done things his way — such as eating his own shoe after living up to his promise that he would if Errol Morris ever completed the film Gates of Heaven. The bet was made into a film featuring Herzog cooking his shoes at the Berkeley California restaurant Chez Panisse, with the help of chef Alice Waters. Having boiled the shoe with garlic, herbs and stock for five hours he proceeds to eat the leather, leaving the sole, explaining "one does not eat the bones of the chicken".

In the Rogue Film School, Herzog founded what he calls an "alternative film school".

"My film school is my way of trying to find an organised way of giving advice," he said. "In essence what I try to get across is stick to your own vision. Do not dream the dreams of others. Do not dream the dream of Hollywood. Dream the dreams of Jordan, South America, of your country. Do not be afraid to struggle for it."

Don't miss it

The Werner Herzog Masterclass takes place today at Madinat Jumeirah's Film Forum Room at 11.30am. Complimentary tickets are on a first come, first served basis. His film Into the Abyss screens at 2pm at Mall of Emirates 12.