Harem (1985)

An Exercise In Nonsense

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Back in the eighties I was a floor trader on the NYFE where the opening trading scenes were filmed. We filmed in the late afternoon\early evening after the exchange had closed. Remember facing forward toward the camera in the center of the trading ring as the fellow traders had their backs to the lens, and upwards at the camera when the director said action. I can distinctly recall how beautiful and large Ms.Kinski's eyes were, as we mock traded with her in the futures pit. The movie was somewhat dry (maybe the second location in the Arabian desert had something to do with it) otherwise only the personal memories would make me have the slightest interest in it.

We the poor public have to watch the contents of someone's sexual fantasies up there on the silver screen.An American girl, who - by design or otherwise - looks strangely like Michael from The Bangles - is given a drugged hot drink on a cold day and wakes up in the heat of the Arabian desert minus her pantyhose. She discovers she has been captured not by a Valentino-type, but by a middle-aged man with a bald head and a moustache. The rest of the film is a seduction and a motor tour through the desert, punctuated by this poor girl being painted with henna.Unless you are looking for a cure for insomnia, you would do well to give this film a miss and watch Valentino in The Sheik instead.

An American woman, Nastassja Kinski, is kidnapped off the streets of New York and ends up in a harem. This movie is not to be confused with Rudolph Valentino's "The Sheik" essentially because "Harem" is dead once the scenery moves into an unknown Arabian desert where the shifting sands seem to have caused time to nearly stop. Poor Ben Kingsley plays a lifeless role that is in marked contrast to the more meaty role that Nastassja has been given. Without Nastassja, there is no movie and even she cannot save this very slow, dull, when-is-it-going-to-end movie. Except for Nastassja, the picture lacks life. The script is DOA and one wonders how these sorts of movies ever see the light of day. At least it is comforting to know that no amount of money in the world will buy off Nastassja's character - American women can be feisty and independent even if they have to rely upon their feminine wiles. "Harem" is a movie that is so bad that one cannot forget it.

The video cover portrayed womens breasts and immediately I thought it was going to be a trashy film, this was not so! It was a well executed character driven film concentrating on lifestyle, love and changing lifestyles. Very little dialogue which was incredible to watch and when it was utilised, it was very powerful. A quiet beginning, but unfolded soon to be quiet intriguing. I found the script to be masterly. In addition to excellent performances by Ben Kingsley and Nastasha Kinsky. Definitely worth watching if you like this genre and plot line. A little more scenery wouldn't go astray, but overall - brilliant - it wasn't a trashy boob harem movie at all (sorry to disappoint you fellas)