The Sheltering Sky (1990)

The Sheltering Sky On Film

I read Paul Bowles' darkly introspective 1949 novel "The Sheltering Sky" some years ago and wanted to see this 1990 movie directed by Bernardo Bertolucci before rereading the book. Set in French North Africa following WW II, "The Sheltering Sky" tells the story of three educated, idle, and callow Americans who decide to visit North Africa for an indeterminate time and purpose. Both the book and the film focus on a failing marriage and on the folly of traveling without understanding to a new and markedly unfamiliar culture. To a greater degree than the book, the film emphasizes the failed marriage aspect of the novel. The film changes the novel substantially, but film is a different medium and the outline of Bowles' book is recognizable. The movie was high-budget, featured famous actors in Debra Winger as Kit, John Malkovich as her husband Port and Campbell Scott as the couple's friend Tunner. The movie failed financially at the box office and received mixed reviews. The video version dates from 2002.

The film combines some strongly appealing features with some serious weaknesses. The major strength of the movie lies in its cinematography and in the evocative scenes of the Sahara Desert, of village streets, buses over dusty roads, urban areas in which French and Arabic culture are mixed, nightclubs, and a variety of hotels. Together with the scenes of Africa, the movie opens with a surprisingly effective collage of the vibrant New York City that the three travelers are leaving behind. The scenery is gorgeous throughout and it is combined with some effective, though mixed, acting from the principals and from secondary characters. Several scenes between Winger and Malkovich are poignantly done as Kit and Port try to understand one another and to rekindle their passion. In other scenes the acting is indifferent. The film also features Paul Bowles offering short narrations at three critical points in the film and appearing in cameo roles. (He is presented nattily dressed sitting in a bar and commenting on the action.)

The weaknesses of the film consist of its excessive length and slow pacing. Bowles' harsh story frequently gets lost and sentimentalized in the lushly romantic presentation. Many of the transitional scenes of the story are abrupt and make the film creak at the joints. Much of the final part of the movie, the climax of Bowles' tragic tale is presented in a long confusing pantomime which bogs down and lacks dramatic effectiveness. The three primary characters remain detached and unlikable making it difficult for the viewer to become involved or sympathetic with their plights. The film tends to be flat taken as a whole.

I am looking forward to revisiting Bowles' novel. Late in his life, Bowles spoke dismissively of this movie. For all its faults, it is worth seeing as a film version of the book, for the scenery, and for the brief appearances of Bowles himself. Admirers of Bowles and of the novel will benefit from seeing this film adaptation of "The Sheltering Sky".

Robin Friedman