The novel series written by Frank Herbert in 1965, which is among the cult classics of today and which is very difficult to adapt to the cinema , was recently met with the audience under the direction of Denis Villeneuve , who has become one of the most popular directors of the recent Hollywood cinema.
Villeneuve, who said he discovered the book in his youth and was very impressed by its poetry and what he said about nature, the real protagonist of the planet Dune, and after years, finally succeeded in realizing his dream of realizing the work that was a touchstone with its complex mythology, described it as the project of his life, which he shot based on the first book of the series . opened the doors of a series that is cooked slowly over low heat, whose taste remains on the palate, but whose flavor will be revealed later.
Although the film caused different discussions between those who have read this book series and those who have not, in general, the universe that Villeneuve transferred to the big screen by sticking to the work was liked and appreciated by the majority.
The great man does not seek leadership, he is called for it.
Based on the book series of the same name by American science fiction author Frank Herbert , set in the distant future thousands of years later, when humanity rules the stars, Dune: Planet of the Desert ; It tells the story of nobleman Paul Atreides, a young man who is dragged by fate into an intergalactic power struggle.
Paul Atreides is a bright and talented young man born into a fate beyond his comprehension who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to secure the future of his family and people.
In this distant future, planets in different parts of the galaxy are ruled by rival feudal families.
But as the sole producer of a very valuable resource, Dune, or control of Arrakis as the locals call it, is in high demand among noble families.
This source, called spice , while offering high consciousness and a long life span, brings with it very serious side effects, and it is also known that this spice is the source that helps to navigate in interstellar paths.
Humanity is fighting for control of this rare, precious, mind-expanding natural resource, also known as the melange, because space travel, knowledge, trade, and human existence have all relied on this natural resource, making it the cornerstone of the galaxy's economy.
But those who want to harvest the spice must avoid the planet's inhospitable heat, hurricane-powered sandstorms, and the well-deserved awe-inspiring sandworms that often equate to reverence for the gods.
Only those who can overcome their fears will survive in this war as evil forces clash over the planet's most precious resource that can unlock humanity's greatest potential.
A reluctant hero's journey
The book begins with Paul's family tasked with taking control of the planet Dune, as well as the sadistic slave masters of this initial nemesis, the Harkonnen dynasty, are also part of the plot.
The ruthless House Harkonnen has ruled Arrakis for generations, becoming a powerful family controlling the harvest and distribution of the spice.
Leveraging fear to rule, the Baron and his family are in staunch opposition to House Atreides and insist on exploiting Dune's natural resources at any cost.
For this reason, there is a fierce animosity between them and the Atreides Dynasty.
Paul, the son of the ailing beloved ruler Duke Leto and the mighty warrior-sister Lady Jessica, will be put to the ultimate test in this plot:
This is Paul's test to overcome his fears as he is ruthlessly drawn into the sands of the distant planet Arrakis by destiny and great unseen forces.
Duke Leto foresees dire consequences when, at the behest of the empire, his own dynasty is asked to invade the endangered planet Arrakis and continue the production of spices in peace, he is forced to accept it.
Thus, as he prepares his only son for the dangers ahead, this relentless conflict between dynasties upsets the delicate political balance on Arrakis.
Dynasty Atreides, who left their beautiful planet and went to Arrakis, is destroyed as a result of a conspiracy, Paul and Jessica escape this carnage and take shelter in the desert.
There they will be met by the Fremen, the desert people who have resisted all forms of invasion for years.
And in the midst of all this, as Paul, a young man struggling with his identity, trying to find his way in the world, as we all do, discovering his identity through another culture guides the story, his destiny is beyond fear.
As head of House Atreides, the son of a great man renowned for his compassion against evil, principled against power, and courage over fear, and the royal heir to the noble dynasty, Paul spent his entire life preparing for the heavy burden of his family name in a loving environment, practicing his martial skills and skills. He spent his time receiving training from masters and mentors to develop his intelligence.
Now, on the verge of manhood, just as the call comes to leave his childhood home in Caladan for a new life, Paul is haunted by visions of a mysterious young woman and an inevitable future.
Surrounded by adults, Paul faces his deepest fears to fulfill his true destiny when he reaches Arrakis, the most dangerous planet in the known universe.
In an epic and emotionally charged hero's journey, Paul, whose family is in control of the desert planet Arrakis, is on the run when his family falls apart as a result of a trap set by the Harkonnen Family, feudal rivals who want to obtain this resource.
Thus begins the story of the future of Arrakis; Paul follows a dangerous and difficult path and is constantly on the verge of extinction due to the oncoming storm.
Before long, Paul finds himself embroiled in a planetary revolution where he must prove to himself that he can lead and survive in this aggressive desert world.
But Arrakis is not just a simple and endless sea of sand as it seems from the outside.
On a planet where even a single drop of water is vital, but they don't worry about being thirsty thanks to the special clothes they wear, Paul, who goes on a journey to an endless desert with his mother, starts a rebellion to regain control of his family on Arrakis.
Paul's journey takes him deep into the Fremen's special brotherhood, where he must prove to himself that he has survived many deadly hardships.
Struggling for the survival and dignity of themselves and future generations, the Fremen were so persecuted by the Harkonnen that they left the surface of the arid planet almost entirely and began to live underground.
Despite being demoted to second-class citizen status, Paul, the noble son of House Atreides, somehow develops strong feelings for the Fremen Chani.
However, despite having dreams about Chani, Paul still does not understand the significance of who she is or will be, and tensions arise between them as they meet under unfriendly circumstances.
Thus, it finds the opportunity to capture the possibility of changing the course of the entire universe, but meanwhile, its movements in the desert are very limited, because it is only a matter of time before they emerge with every step; There are other ancient guardians of the desert and this precious resource that everyone wants to acquire.
a deep history
The timelessness of the Homeric novel and its author's uncanny ability to predict the future are indisputable.
So even though it takes place in the distant future, in a vast universe of interstellar feudal empires, Dune is based on human relationships and struggles.
real people; It tells about complex themes such as ecology, evolution and survival, and the daily struggles that people face about issues such as love, loyalty, duty, betrayal, power, that is, us, and it mirrors the society we live in today from this perspective.
It is also a striking portrait of the twentieth century because of its scrutiny of the impact and chaos caused by colonialism, which is still valid today.
Frank Herbert himself had traveled the world and was a history student who benefited greatly from what was going on around him.
So Herbert, a zealous environmentalist, spent more than five years creating the complex ecosystem of the planet Dune.
In Arrakis, which Herbert created by blending his research with imagination, nearly every element of the ecosystem works together to realize the planet's main export, covered with climatic belts and windswept tunnels that shape its rocky geography, and different temperate climates produce a variable desert flora.
In addition, this world that Herbert built has a rich understanding of philosophy and religion.
Among the various groups in the Dune universe are the Mentats, who are like human computers, the Navigators who can predict the alignment of the stars to determine space travel, and the Bene Gesserit, the group of women who represent the more religious side of humanity, who can influence events as well as make decisions that help maintain balance in the universe. .
For example, Paul's mother Jessica is a member of the Bene Gesserit, an ancient school of spice-supported psychology, and as a member of this mysterious female cult, she owns a body and mind that can express her words with a power called the Voice, bending the will of those who dare threaten her family. He is a master.
For political reasons, Jessica is told to give birth to a daughter, but she gives birth to a son for her own reasons; This creates chaos in the empire.