The Sheltering Sky (1990)
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Starring: Debra Winger, John Malkovich, Campbell Scott, Jill Bennett
Primary genre: Drama
Based on Paul Bowles’ beautifully thematic novel, Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Sheltering Sky (the second film in his oriental trilogy after The Last Emperor (1987) and Little Buddha (1993)) boasts plenty of visual richness amidst sensational cinematography but completely misinterprets the book’s philosophical values and dramatic gravitas.
Set in the French occupied Algeria in the 1950s and shot in real locations, The Sheltering Sky’s extravagant aesthetics are undeniable. Assisted by legendary DoP Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now (1978), Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)), Bertolucci’s eye for sweeping composition is displayed in every shot; stunning pictures of exquisite cinematic quality reminiscent of David Lean’s work (Lawrence of Arabia (1962), A Passage to India (1984)). The colors are rich and vibrant highlighting the Sahara desert and the rich culture of its occupants. Key collaborator, Ryuichi Sakamoto (who won the Oscar for best score for The Last Emperor and a Golden Globe for his work here) is also back delivering a poignant piano driven score which exacerbates the tragic progression of a disconnected couple’s journey.
“Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well, yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really.”
Yet, despite all the talent involved in this adaptation, why does everything feel, well, empty? The famous Italian director (who co-wrote the screenplay) does not seem confident enough to translate the book successfully for the big screen. His attempt to change the tone of key scenes along with a bit of a scattershot pace on moving moments detracts from the soul of its flawed characters and their selfish actions. In other words, there is no sense of people’s emotional loyalties. Bertolucci may be a master in putting together motion pictures radically different from those of the contemporary cinema in his time (an effort deserving all the praise it can get), yet here, he is out of his depth. Infamously known for his provocative scenes, The Sheltering Sky is no exception. However, the sex and full-frontal nudity content in such a story is distracting inserted clearly for “that” artistic, European factor causing more eye rolls instead of a genuine adult vibe.
The surprisingly anemic performances and comedic insertions affect the movie’s serious aspects like an encounter with a prostitute in a Berber encampment which in the book shapes Port’s (John Malkovich) perspective. Debra Winger is especially miscast as Port’s wife Kit, an out-of-touch New Yorker unable to attract empathy or sympathy on the audience’s part. Her manic interactions with those around her make her a ragdoll of swinging emotions. Two hours in, and we still have no idea where she stands, why, and how.
In addition, Paul Bowles’ distracting cameo as the narrator is spouting out his famous novel quote to zero effect in what should have been a turning point for a character’s POV. While the novel dealt with wasted opportunities, the passage of time and its effect on marriage, and significant cultural gaps, here everything is through an American perspective. The Malkovich/Winger duo comes across more as spoiled mid-30s brats who demandingly traverse a less developed region as opposed to soul-searching individuals seeking to reconnect.
Bertolucci obviously loves challenging and complex source material and his creative team is proof of that. Such an interesting story though needs to be examined through the lens of stoicism. The Sheltering Sky is without a doubt beautiful, yes, but it is also a confused and misguided adaptation of one of the greatest novels of all time. It should be seen more as a showcase for Algerian tourism with its desert hiking, fort-staying, and tea-drinking rituals than a fully developed tale of a faded romance.
Beautiful and pathos-less drama
+Sweeping cinematography
+Sakamoto’s music
+Authentic production design
-Miscast
-Especially Winger
-No dramatic depth
-Confused characters