European colonisation of Africa was preceded by European exploration of the continent’s interior, which for centuries had been inaccessible to Europeans due to harsh climate, dangerous fauna, deadly endemic diseases and hostile native population. Only in 19th Century weapons, technology and medicine advanced enough to make such expeditions viable and the results stirred Europeans’ imagination with tales of mystery of adventure. One such expedition is the subject of Mountains of the Moon, 1990 adventure epic directed by Bob Rafelson.
The film is based on Burton and Speke, the novel by American writer William Harrison, as well as the writings of the protagonists – British explorers Sir Richard Francis Burton (played by Patrick Bergin) and John Hanning Speke (played by Iain Glen). The plot begins on the coast of East Africa in 1854 where two men, who are both former British Army officers, volunteer to take part in the expedition to explore the interior. While they both have upper class background, they are very different – Burton, a poet, scholar, polyglot and adventurer, has already reached fame by his exploits in Arabia and infamy among prudish Victorian society for his translations of Kama Sutra; Speke is more introvert, lacks education and scientific interests, but he is an avid hunter and sees expedition as a way to prove himself to the family. The expedition ends disastrously due to hostile tribesmen attacking their camp; Burton receives spear to the jaw, but his life is saved by Speke. Three years later, Burton brings Speke to another expedition, this time with an ambitious goal of discovering source of the River Nile, which had been subject of legends and speculations in Europe since Classical times. They begin long, harsh and perilous trek deep into interior, guided only by vague tales from Arab slave caravans. Along the way they rescue escape slave Mabruki (played by Delroy Lindo) who would help them in their quest. After many months of hardship, during which they lose many men and scientific equipment, they finally reach Lake Tanganyika. By that time, Burton is too ill to continue, and while he recovers, Speke goes north and discovers Lake Victoria. Upon return, Speke claims that Lake Victoria must be the source of the Nile. Burton is sceptical towards those claims and years later in England, the matter becomes subject of increasingly bitter debate between former friends, further inflamed by sensationalist newspapers and various factions within British establishment.
Bob Rafelson, producer and director who became famous for his drama films during New Hollywood era, might look like a strange choice for making old school period epic that is more suitable for the likes of David Lean. Rafelson was actually fascinated by the story of Burton and Speke and wanted to make the film for years before the project received green light by Carolco studio. Mountains of the Moon looks very much like the classic Hollywood epics, mostly due to relatively high budget, brilliant cinematography by Roger Deakins that puts Kenyan locations to good use as well as serviceable musical score by Michael Small. Great effort has been invested in proper reconstruction of the past, which includes costumes and props, both in Africa and Victorian England. Rafelson is, however, less interested in grand story of exploration and adventure, and more in more intimate character study, which is both film’s strength and weakness.
Rafelson was apparently attracted to the sharp contrast between two main characters and had good fortune to chose two very good actors for their part. Burton in this film is represented as larger-than-life character of talented scholar, adventurer and, least but not least, successful ladies man that involves not only affairs with nubile native women but also passionate romance with his future wife Isabel Arundel (played by Fiona Shaw, one of the more interesting actresses of her generation, who, despite her looks that don’t conform to orthodox standards of beauty, manages to broadcast sensuality). Burton’s character is played by Patrick Bergin, Irish actor who was relatively unknown at time, but whose performance left such great impression on critics, that he was branded “next Sean Connery” at time. Character of Speke is visibly inferior and presented as emotionally vulnerable. Rafelson’s script tries to find the source of such vulnerability by speculating about Speke’s sexual orientation (further enhanced by presence of Richard E. Grant who plays his influential friend Oliphant as someone with more than friendly connection) and his feud with Burton being fuelled by unrequited love. Speke’s character is well-played by Iain Glen, Scottish actor who would decades later become famous as Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones. African American Delroy Lindo, who plays African character Mabruki (who doesn’t speak English) leaves less impression than Kenyan actor Paul Onsonogo who plays expedition’s African guide and translator Sidi Bombay.
Mountains of the Moon might have been a truly great film if not for the script trying to reduce main dramatic conflict to rather predictable issue of sexual repression. There were potentials for something more, like the issue of prejudice, both in terms of race (with Burton being presented as someone quite progressive and enlightened for Victorian standards) or ethnicity (film suggests that Burton as Irish wasn’t proper enough like Speke as true Englishman). But those opportunities were missed, just like those in middle section of the film, which depicts Burton’s captivity at the court of power-mad African king. That section is many ways confusing and, furthermore, strays much from the historical fact, like many other details in the film. Mountains of the Moon nevertheless deserves recommendation as imperfect, but mostly satisfying example of the old school adventure epics that Hollywood doesn’t make any more.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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