The Wind and the Lion

In the beginning of The Wind and the Lion, Eden Perdicaris warns her son William not to play near the edge. She's referring to the edge of the cliff that their home is on, but she hasn't any idea just how close to the edge she and her family are about to get just before they are kidnapped by Mulai Ahmed er Raisuni. Descendent of Mohammed, Raisuni was the last of the Barbary pirates. Fighter of government corruption and oppression, Raisuni (known as Raisuli to the English speaking world) was considered a heroic figure by some Moroccans, and a thief by others.

In the film, there are a few inaccuracies. Notably, Raisuni never kidnapped Eden, he actually kidnapped her husband, Ion Perdicaris, and his stepson, Cromwell Varley. This was changed in the script for the sake of the film's drama and plot line. It provided the audience with a common ground to emotionally grip; family. They stuck close and worked together, surviving life on the edge while trying to escape as captured hostages, fearing for their lives. It also provided a subtle amount of romantic tension between Raisuni and Eden, which never actually happened, but provided for more drama.