This exceptional documentary tells the true story of Gertrude Bell, who in her time was called the “female Lawrence of Arabia,” but who has literally disappeared from history books. Bell was a British explorer, archaeologist and spy, who had traveled widely across Arabia before being recruited by military intelligence during World War I to help draw the borders of Iraq and, as a result, shape the modern Middle East. Using archival footage and images, this look at both a remarkable independent woman and the tangled history of Iraq takes us on a journey into a past that is eerily current. Tilda Swinton gives voice to Bell’s letters and correspondence (as well as serving as an executive producer with Thelma Schoonmaker and others). Directors: Zeva Oelbaum, Sabine Krayenbühl. (UK/US 2016) 95 min.