Le secret du Sahara

I have to say that this story has all the elements of a great fantasy/advernture story, the types that kids read and dream about.

A scientist in the desert looking for a long lost city and its people, trekking through the searing heat, the pesky soldiers interested in their own selfish schemes, and a surprise ending. Most elements (not all) are to the point and kept simple, not over-doing THOSE parts. It starts off seeming like an enjoyable family adventure/fantasy movie.

However, some things that were a bit overdone, and in my opinion were totally unnecessary, were the rape scenes and situations. This could have been an enjoyable family movie, but there are a few scenes that are disturbing and maybe for some traumatizing, that really don't have any place in a film like this.

A good movie (or mini-series) which could have been fun for the whole family, and especially good for helping kids' imagination soar, if it wasn't for those scenes.

2 versions exist in commerce : - a DVD which isn't in french but English with subtitle German, it's the mini-series of 6 hours, unfortunately don't find in France. - a record VHS of 2h05 which is a movie.

I remember to see this series at the television but I don't record it. I know all many people would like to watch again. I paid 54 € for a VHS of this movie.

Then a series unforgotten where there are love, venture and science-fiction with many actors like Michael York, David Soul , Mathilda May,...

Wow. I saw this when it was aired for the first time on an Austrian or German TV-Channel. I was still a child then, and I couldn't get it out of my head. This is a very well done mini-serial with a very good plot, and it would deserve a DVD release. If you can get the soundtrack album released on CD by RCA, get it! The music is so wonderful and brought back so many memories...

I first saw this film as a kid; It got etched in my memory so profoundly that after 20+ years I would still remember it fondly. Not memories, but images and feelings of awe. For years I didn't even know the name of the film (mini-series); All I knew was "Jordan" and the "Singing Mountain". And the haunting leitmotivs!

And then one day I decided to track it down - And what a movie it was! It's a unique experience, a mysterious world that I tasted last when I played Indiana Jones and the fate of Atlantis or when I read the book of MYST and watched the original stargate - A SciFi-Fantasy romance, one of those rare things that has the power to carry you to some alternate reality, not overly complicated, but inspiring and beautiful - even now, I couldn't help feeling sucked in to the naively romantic world of my childhood!

Highly recommended!

I have seen the Secret of the Sahara a number of times since it's release, and I can't say that it's lost its attraction. If you enjoy the whimsy of a fairy tale, set in an extra-ordinary location such as the Sahara, good against evil, a little romance thrown in, a little jealousy, handsome leads, then the Secret of the Sahara is just the ticket!