Mountains of the Moon

REVIEW
Inspired by the journals of 19th-century explorers Richard Burton and Jack Speke, this is a stirring account of the torturous and famous expedition taken by the two adventurers to discover the source of the Nile. Rafelson meticulously re-creates the worlds of privileged Britain and small-tribe Africa, and has fashioned an exhilarating adventure film of the highest order. Bergin and Glen give outstanding performances as Burton and Speke, respectively, whose sometimes perilous and always enlightening journey began in 1854, and ended many years and thousands of miles later in betrayal and death.