The Sheltering Sky (1990)

Set in 1947 French Algeria, a composer (John Malkovich) and his writer wife (Debra Winger) arrive with the intention of staying while their traveling companion (Campbell Scott) is there for only a few weeks. Naive to the dangers that surround them, the couple begin a journey that will end in death and mental and emotional collapse. Based on the novel by Paul Bowles (who has a cameo as well as narrating the film) and directed by Bernardo Bertolucci (THE CONFORMIST). Some novels resist the transition to film no matter how hard the film makers try. The novel was an existential narrative of hopelessness and estrangement and the film often gets very close to establishing that mood but mostly it comes across as a story about two aimless self centered Americans who seem to have a superior attitude toward all things around them. More than once, they use the word boring in describing situations and people. The real star of the film is Vittorio Storaro's outstanding cinematography which won several awards though the movie itself received mixed reviews. With Eric Vu-An, Timothy Spall and Jill Bennett.