The Sheltering Sky

source: The Sheltering Sky

Trailer—The Sheltering Sky

The Sheltering Sky

Exquisite film. All the other reviewers have said all that I can say. That it didn't do well at the box office afirms my belief that the BEST is often the smallest, easily overlooked detail with the least fanfare. Someone said it well, if you want graphic violence and car chases this film is not for you. And that suits me fine. I wouldn't want to share this film with someone who saw Star Trek five times. I was ecstatic to know that Paul Bowles played a cameo (the Narrator) in this film. I have always been intrigued by this mystical man. And wasn't Sakamoto the same person who wrote the so-called American early 60's hit "Sukiyaki"?

Have you ever had one of those nights where you couldn't sleep? You wake up tired, but you know you have to go to work the next day. Everything you do makes you tired, but you must press on. That's the feeling I got from this film. Fatigue. As Winger and Malkovich make their respective ways through the Saharan obstacle course, I wonder what horror is around the next corner. Ultimately, we need to ask the question, "Why are they there." The ennui they represent is hard to fathom. They have bought into this mess and have no intention of leaving it. The characters are exhausting in that they are reckless. They put themselves in constant danger. I guess it's to experience something that will bring them out of their self imposed comas. The acting is excellent; the scenery phenomenal. I felt like I was riding along with them on those awful buses. At some point, I guess, Debra Winger's character has some sort of epiphany and sexual fulfillment, but what lies ahead. Exhausting!

"The Sheltering Sky" tells of a married couple (Malkovich/Winger) whose post-WWII travels in Northern Africa become an odyssey of self discovery. Beautifully filmed and imbued with the sights and sounds of Morocco while telling its thin, plaintive story, the film makes a better travelogue than drama. A good watch for those into North African cultures, many will find this film's story weak, ambiguous, and unsatisfying with its message buried somewhere in the sands of the Sahara. (B-)

Bernardo Bertolucci does not really make fast-paced movies, let's face it. But very often (The Last Emperor, Last Tango in Paris, La Luna,) they're beautifully crafted character studies set in amazing landscapes. Bertolucci also handles his cast with great talent and the performances delivered by actors in his movies are always intense. Here Debra Winger is captivating, and aptly supported by John Malkovich and a strong supporting cast. The story slowly unfolds itself, and the nuances in the script, dialogue, cinematography and acting are splendid. The throughout subtle presence of Paul Bowles adds great melancholy. When I first saw it on the big screen, I left the theater in a state of total despair, because the characters are so miserable.

Well, after seeing this magnificent movie for the first on DVD, I blame myself for not going into the theater to see it! This film is best viewed on a HUGE screen! Almost a half of this movie is wordless, but the music makes it up to bring you in a strange mood. Regardless of some minor flaws, Bertolucci manages to transport you in world were love and self discovery are tight together in order to create a mesmerizing experience... Is very hard to be coherent about this movie, because is hard to comment on the simple facts of life, somewhere in Africa and not only. For me, this movie made me think a lot about what am I doing with my life sometimes, even though the director probably didn't plan this kind of effect on the viewers:) Too many words saying nothing just take the movie and watch it in low dim light, on a BIG screen, and with loud sound, so you can recreate a beautiful world!

American couple Port (John Malkovich) and Kit Moresby (Debra Winger) see themselves as travelers looking for new experiences. They go to Tangier after the war with their friend George Tunner (Campbell Scott) who they see more as a tourist. Port is introduced to a prostitute and is robbed. Kit and George take a train trip. Port is jealous and follows them catching a ride with the Lyles (Jill Bennett, Timothy Spall). It's a grand meandering story about being aimless. It's not just about being aimless but there is also a pointlessness about the movie. The location shoots are wonderfully exotic. Malkovich is chewing up the scenes and Spall is being weird. However the movie struggles to find a meaning.