Inside Arabia

By Stephen Harrison

The IMAX film Arabia is a showcase for the nation of Saudi Arabia. The country's rich history, natural splendour, and architectural wonders are well suited to the IMAX screen. The documentary follows a young Arabian filmmaker as he explores the nation's attempt to balance tradition and modernization; an amusing shot of a camel riding through downtown Riyadh in a pickup truck underlines this point. The 45-minute documentary is noteworthy for being the first film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and this emerging openness is one of the film's themes. Arabia often feels like a travelogue, but it does note the ongoing inequalities faced by Arabian women. The film's imagery is often breathtaking and beautiful, and it provides insights into Arabian history and society that are no less welcome.

Robert Lacey, a British author of popular history who served as a script consultant on Arabia, spoke at a recent screening in Victoria. Lacey's latest book, Inside the Kingdom, tells the story of the last thirty years of Arabian history through interviews and anecdotes. During a question and answer session, he spoke about a variety of internal tensions: between the oil fields of eastern Saudi Arabia and the spiritual centres of the west; between the past and the present; between imported jeans and Nikes and a strong sense of tradition.

More than anything, Lacey is an optimist. When queried about Saudi Arabia's future, he acknowledges that it is facing a variety of challenges, including finite oil reserves and an increasing problem with youth unemployment, to name but two. The country is diversifying, he says, and it is looking towards a future with nuclear power and a focus on education. A "great believer in the traditional structure of monarchy," Lacey considers the current Arabian regime stable; British oddsmakers put the likelihood of a revolution and collapse at 4000:1. Though the nation has become more conservative since the 1970s, the film argues that the creation of prestigious co-ed universities and an investment in education may indicate a return to the golden ages of Saudi Arabia's past. The movie portrays a Saudi Arabia that is changing for the better, but its argument warrants scrutiny. Where the viewer is left with questions, Lacey's book is a useful starting point for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper.