Review of The Sheltering Sky (1990) by Ms Amanda J — 12 Jan 2011

Proof, if any were needed, that Paul Bowles's deep, spiritual novel was unfilmable, Bertolucci still manages to make this a notable experience, with the final third utterly mesmerising cinema. John Malkovich is, for once, well cast as the self-involved Port Moresby.

Though he was never the most interesting thing about the novel. Debra Winger is surprisingly correct as Kit, devastatingly detached and anguished. The real hero here is Vittorio Storaro's stunning cinematography, with the final third largely playing out without dialogue, and hauntingly beautiful (though Kit's rehabilitation into society is very jarring).

Bertolucci also directs this as romance removing any sexual deviance and threat from the novel. He directs with control and there is some lovely symbolism in the imagery but there is none of the threat or unease from the novel.

A major mistake is Bowles's narration, so sporadic it's largely unnecessary (the final scene using his narration is also staggeringly inept). In the end it's beautiful but average, which is something that can be said for many of Bertolucci's films.