Passion In The Desert

Absolutely haunting imagery and themes.
It's hard to add to what the other 5-star reviewers have said. Yes, it will probably not play well to a group of friends on a Saturday night. The movie speaks too deeply for that kind of crowd. But if you allow yourself to listen, it has the power to really move you. This movie is about more than the seemingly sensational man-leopard love affair. It's about what it means to be human, our separation from our fellow creatures, and the ultimate consequences of that separation. The final image sums it all up so powerfully that I am moved to tears just thinking about it. One of the most beautiful (on any level I can think of) and eloquent movies of all time. I wish everyone could see it.

Flawed, terrible beauty
I can understand Riamon's criticism of the film. The film *is* flawed. Before we meet Simoom the leopardess, the action is forced, the motivations unclear, and, the whole thing seems calculated to steer you into the main action like early horror movies (don't open that door, stupid...why did he open that door? ). Oh, and there are far too many long, lingering shots of augustin doing something narcissitic. That's the bad news.

The good news is this: It is beautiful. Stunning even. And it is a real, completely irony-less, tragedy. After Simoom comes on the scene, the love story happens naturally. Absolutely ineluctable, absolutely effortless, the movie moves towards the tragic ending, as unstoppable as a sandstorm, as quiet as a desert, as relentless as love. The ending was no suprise at all, but haunted me for days afterwards. I loved it.

Saving Private Ryan may win Oscar, but...
Saving Private Ryan may win the Oscar for best film but hands down the best of 1998 is Passion in the Desert. The beauty and majesty of Eygpt are set against the struggle of one man to find his humanity while the horrors of war rage around him. The relationship forged with a great cat is the path back to his humanity. This film offers many levels of interpretation, and becomes a wonderful example of all movie making can be. The breath taking vistas of the desert are coupled with excellect acting. The controversial novel is brought to life retaining all its power and vitiality. A thought provoking must see.

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