Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

The film opens in 1935 with the death of British Army officer T.E. Lawrence in a motorcycle accident in Dorset, England, followed by a memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral where reporters attempt to understand the enigmatic man. The narrative then flashes back to 1916, where Lawrence, a misfit British Army lieutenant known for his insolence and academic knowledge of the Bedouin tribes, is sent by Mr. Dryden of the Arab Bureau to assess the progress of Prince Feisal's revolt against the Turks. On his journey, his Bedouin guide is killed by Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish for drinking from a well belonging to a rival tribe, an act that initially horrifies Lawrence, who is dismayed to learn Ali is Feisal's advisor.
Lawrence meets Colonel Brighton, who orders him to remain silent and report back, but Lawrence defies these orders, impressing Feisal with his knowledge of the Quran and his honesty about British intentions. He convinces Feisal to launch a daring surprise attack on the well-defended Turkish port of Aqaba from the landward side, a route considered impassable due to the harsh Nefud Desert. With a small force led by Sherif Ali and two orphaned servants, Farraj and Daud, Lawrence undertakes the grueling journey across the desert. When one of his men, Gasim, falls from his camel and is left behind, Lawrence risks his own life to rescue him, earning Ali's respect and the traditional white robes of a Sherif.
Lawrence persuades Auda Abu Tayi, the leader of the powerful Howeitat tribe, to join the attack by promising him a gold hoard, though no gold is found. A blood feud is averted when Lawrence executes the murderer of one of Auda's men, a decision that deeply disturbs him, especially when he discovers the culprit is Gasim. The successful capture of Aqaba revitalizes the Arab revolt and makes Lawrence a hero. He returns to Cairo, where his Arab attire and insistence on equal treatment for Farraj provoke outrage among British officers. General Allenby promotes him to Major and provides arms and money for further operations.
Lawrence launches a successful guerrilla war, destroying Turkish railways and earning international fame through the reports of American journalist Jackson Bentley. His recklessness leads to the deaths of many of his men, and he becomes increasingly bloodthirsty. On a scouting mission to the Turkish-held city of Deraa, Lawrence is captured, stripped, tortured, and subjected to severe flogging, an experience that shatters his sense of invincibility and leaves him humbled. He returns to Cairo but feels alienated from British society.
Learning of the secret Sykes-Picot Agreement, which plans to partition the Middle East between Britain and France, Lawrence feels betrayed. Allenby urges him to return to Arabia to support the "big push" on Damascus. Lawrence recruits a mercenary army and leads the Arabs to Damascus before the British, hoping to secure Arab independence. He establishes an Arab Council to govern the city, but it quickly collapses into chaos due to tribal divisions. The British take control, and Lawrence is promoted to Colonel before returning to England.
The film concludes with Lawrence leaving Damascus, looking longingly at the departing Arabs, as a motorcyclist passes him, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. The story is presented as a complex portrayal of a man torn between conflicting loyalties, whose actions profoundly shaped Arab-Western relations.