A sprinkling of sublime for TE Lawrence's grave
There is that 'great man' moment in David Lean's cinematic masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia when Peter O'Toole's Lawrence is trying to persuade his sceptical Bedouin lieutenant (Omar Sharif) that it is indeed possible to cross hundreds of miles of waterless desert and take the fortified port of Aqaba, held by the Turks, from the landward side. 'Aqaba is over there,' he says, pointing into the furnace. 'It's only a matter of going.'
That journey in 1917, the crossing of the uncrossable, of what Sharif's character calls the 'Devil's Anvil', was the defining moment for Thomas Edward Lawrence. His legend grew from there.Lawrence's life ended not with a Turkish bullet or a last drop of stagnant water but at the age of 46 with a
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The Guardian
42 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Channel 4 to air BBC-commissioned documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack
Channel 4 will air a documentary about the plight of medics in Gaza after the BBC last week announced that it would not show the film after concerns it may create 'a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect'. The BBC had commissioned Gaza: Doctors Under Attack more than a year ago from an independent production company called Basement Films but had delayed airing it until an ongoing review into a different programme on the region was completed. The one-off documentary, which includes witness accounts from frontline Palestinian health workers in Gaza and documents attacks on hospitals and clinics, will now air on Channel 4 on 2 July at 10pm. The film has been 'factchecked and compiled by Channel 4 to ensure it meets Channel 4 editorial standards and the Ofcom broadcasting code', an announcement said. Louisa Compton, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs and specialist factual and sport, said in a statement: 'This is a meticulously reported and important film examining evidence which supports allegations of grave breaches of international law by Israeli forces that deserves to be widely seen and exemplifies Channel 4's commitment to brave and fearless journalism.' In an op-ed, Compton further explained: 'We are showing this programme because we believe that, following thorough factchecking and verification, we are presenting a duly impartial view of a subject that both divides opinion and frequently provokes dispute about what constitutes a fact. 'Channel 4 has a strong tradition of putting uncomfortable reporting in front of our audiences. In doing so, we know we will antagonise somebody somewhere sometime. But we do it because we believe it is our duty to tell important journalistic stories – especially those that aren't being told elsewhere.' She added: 'Doctors Under Attack was commissioned by another broadcaster, which took a different view of the original content and decided not to broadcast it. 'That other broadcaster will have had its own reasons for not showing the programme. 'For ourselves, after rigorous factchecking and assessing the film against our own editorial criteria as well as against all regulatory requirements, we decided that it was both compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, but also that it was important journalism in the public interest. 'Any small changes were carried out with the producers to update the film and give viewers as much information as possible. 'The result is harrowing, no doubt. It will make people angry, whichever side they take, or if they take no side. 'But while we would never judge anyone who decides that showing something could create a risk of being thought to be taking sides, we believe there are times when the same risk is run by not showing anything at all.' Basement Films said: 'This is the third film we have made about the assault on Gaza since 7 October at Basement Films, and while none of them have been easy, this became by far the most difficult.' The production company said it owed 'everything' to its Palestinian colleagues in Gaza and 'the doctors and medics who trusted us with their stories'. It added: 'We want to apologise to the contributors and team for the long delay, and thank Channel 4 for enabling it to be seen.' Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was greenlit for broadcast by Compton, and was made by reporter Ramita Navai, executive producer Ben De Pear, who was previously editor of Channel 4 News, and director Karim Shah for Basement Films. De Pear was also previously the executive producer on 2019's For Sama, which won a Bafta and was nominated for an Oscar. The BBC pulled the documentary How to Survive a Warzone in February after it emerged that its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. In a statement last week, the BBC said it had paused production of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack in April, having made a decision that they could not broadcast the film while a review into a separate Gaza documentary was ongoing. The BBC said that with both films coming from independent production companies, and both about Gaza, it was right to wait for any relevant findings – and put them into action – before broadcasting the film. The BBC statement said they had for 'some weeks' been 'working with Basement Films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms'. They added: 'It became apparent that we have reached the end of the road with these discussions. 'We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC. 'Impartiality is a core principle of BBC News. It is one of the reasons that we are the world's most trusted broadcaster. Therefore, we are transferring ownership of the film material to Basement Films. 'Contrary to some reports, since we paused production of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack in April, it has not undergone the BBC's final prebroadcast signoff processes.' 'Any film broadcast will not be a BBC film,' the BBC said. Their statement added: 'We want to thank the doctors and contributors and we are sorry we could not tell their stories. The BBC will continue to cover events in Gaza impartially.'
Times
44 minutes ago
- Times
Channel 4 to screen Gaza documentary the BBC wouldn't show
Channel 4 will this week broadcast a documentary about medics in Gaza that was dropped by the BBC over concerns it 'risked creating a perception of partiality' in the corporation's coverage of the conflict. Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, which will air on Wednesday evening, examines allegations that Israeli forces have targeted hospitals and healthcare workers in the territory in breach of international law. Channel 4 described the documentary, which was made by the independent production company Basement Films, as 'a forensic investigation'. Louisa Compton, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs, who acquired the documentary, said: 'We are showing this programme because we believe that, following thorough fact-checking and verification, we are presenting a duly impartial view of a subject that both divides opinion and frequently provokes dispute about what constitutes a fact. 'The result is harrowing … It will make people angry, whichever side they take, or if they take no side. But while we would never judge anyone who decides that showing something could create a risk of being thought to be taking sides, we believe there are times when the same risk is run by not showing anything at all.' The BBC commissioned the film last year and was initially supposed to broadcast it earlier this year. Executives first shelved the documentary until an investigation into a previous film on the region had concluded, then scrapped it entirely on June 20. It is understood that the corporation had been particularly concerned that posts on social media by some of the documentary makers could contravene the BBC's commitment to impartiality. The day before it was axed, one of its co-directors, the Emmy award-winning journalist Ramita Navai, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme to talk about the Iran-Israel conflict. Segueing into speaking about Gaza, Navai said: 'The world has been watching as Israel has become a rogue state that is committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing and mass-murdering Palestinians.' The presenter Amol Rajan responded that many listeners would 'take issue' with her description of Israel's actions, to which Navai replied: 'That isn't my opinion. I have been investigating it for a year and a half, actually, for a documentary for the BBC investigating Israel's war crimes. I've collected lots of evidence of that.' Ben de Pear, the founder of Basement Films and a former editor of Channel 4 News, had also criticised the BBC and its director-general, Tim Davie, for not running the film. Speaking at Sheffield DocFest earlier this month, de Pear said: 'All the decisions about our film were not taken by journalists, they were taken by Tim Davie. He is just a PR person. Tim Davie is taking editorial decisions which, frankly, he is not capable of making.' The film had been scrutinised by BBC legal and compliance teams, but the corporation said the documentary had not undergone its 'final pre-broadcast sign-off processes'. The delay to its release caused an outcry among BBC journalists. At a recent BBC staff town hall, Davie was repeatedly questioned about the decision, which was the most common staff concern raised, ahead of pay and redundancies. Production was first paused following the scandal over Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, which was made by a different company, Hoyo Films. After it emerged that the narrator was the son of a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas-run government, the film was pulled from the BBC's iPlayer. It is now the subject of an internal BBC investigation, the findings of which are expected to be published next month. Channel 4 said that the film had been fact-checked to ensure it meets its editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Basement Films added: 'We want to apologise to the contributors and team for the long delay and thank Channel 4 for enabling it to be seen.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Channel 4 to air BBC-commissioned documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack
Channel 4 will air a documentary about the plight of medics in Gaza after the BBC last week announced that it would not show the film following concerns it may create 'a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect'. The BBC had commissioned Gaza: Doctors Under Attack more than a year ago from an independent production company called Basement Films but had delayed airing it until an ongoing review into a different programme on the region was completed. The one-off documentary, which includes witness accounts from frontline Palestinian health workers in Gaza and documents attacks on hospitals and clinics, will now air on Channel 4 on July 2 at 10pm. The film has been 'fact-checked and compiled by Channel 4 to ensure it meets Channel 4 editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code', an announcement said. Louisa Compton, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs and specialist factual and sport, said in a statement: 'This is a meticulously reported and important film examining evidence which supports allegations of grave breaches of international law by Israeli forces that deserves to be widely seen and exemplifies Channel 4's commitment to brave and fearless journalism.' In an op-ed, Ms Compton further explained: 'We are showing this programme because we believe that, following thorough fact-checking and verification, we are presenting a duly impartial view of a subject that both divides opinion and frequently provokes dispute about what constitutes a fact. 'Channel 4 has a strong tradition of putting uncomfortable reporting in front of our audiences. In doing so, we know we will antagonise somebody somewhere sometime. But we do it because we believe it is our duty to tell important journalistic stories – especially those that aren't being told elsewhere.' She added: 'Doctors Under Attack was commissioned by another broadcaster, which took a different view of the original content and decided not to broadcast it. 'That other broadcaster will have had its own reasons for not showing the programme. 'For ourselves, after rigorous fact-checking and assessing the film against our own editorial criteria as well as against all regulatory requirements, we decided that it was both compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, but also that it was important journalism in the public interest. 'Any small changes were carried out with the producers to update the film and give viewers as much information as possible. 'The result is harrowing, no doubt. It will make people angry, whichever side they take, or if they take no side. 'But while we would never judge anyone who decides that showing something could create a risk of being thought to be taking sides, we believe there are times when the same risk is run by not showing anything at all.' Basement Films said: 'This is the third film we have made about the assault on Gaza since October 7th at Basement Films, and whilst none of them have been easy, this became by far the most difficult.' The production firm said it owed 'everything' to its Palestinian colleagues in Gaza and 'the doctors and medics who trusted us with their stories'. It added: 'We want to apologise to the contributors and team for the long delay, and thank Channel 4 for enabling it to be seen.' Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was greenlit for broadcast by Ms Compton, and was made by reporter Ramita Navai, executive producer Ben De Pear, who was previously editor of Channel 4 News, and director Karim Shah for Basement Films. Mr De Pear was also previously the executive producer on 2019's For Sama, which won a Bafta and was nominated for an Oscar. The BBC pulled the documentary How To Survive A Warzone in February after it emerged that its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. In a statement last week, the BBC said it had paused production of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack in April, having made a decision that they could not broadcast the film while a review into a separate Gaza documentary was ongoing. The BBC said that with both films coming from independent production companies, and both about Gaza, it was right to wait for any relevant findings – and put them into action – before broadcasting the film. The BBC statement said they had for 'some weeks' been 'working with Basement Films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms.' They added: 'It became apparent that we have reached the end of the road with these discussions.' 'We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC. 'Impartiality is a core principle of BBC News. It is one of the reasons that we are the world's most trusted broadcaster. 'Therefore, we are transferring ownership of the film material to Basement Films. 'Contrary to some reports, since we paused production of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack in April, it has not undergone the BBC's final pre-broadcast sign-off processes.' 'Any film broadcast will not be a BBC film,' the BBC said. Their statement added: 'We want to thank the doctors and contributors and we are sorry we could not tell their stories. The BBC will continue to cover events in Gaza impartially.'
