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The Sheltering Sky
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The Sheltering Sky (1990) More at IMDbPro »

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The Sheltering Sky (1990) -- The American artist couple Port and Kit Moresby travel aimlessly through Africa, searching for new experiences that could give sense to their relationship. But the flight to distant regions only leads both deeper into despair.
The Sheltering Sky (1990) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   3,960 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers (WGA):
Paul Bowles (book)
Mark Peploe (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Sheltering Sky on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 December 1990 (USA) more
Tagline:
A woman's dangerous and erotic journey...
Plot:
The American artist couple Port and Kit Moresby travel aimlessly through Africa, searching for new experiences that could give sense to their relationship. But the flight to distant regions only leads both deeper into despair. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Streep Nom #9 and Act III: Funny Lady
 (From FilmExperience. 11 July 2009, 9:59 AM, PDT)

Paltrow's Celebrity Book Club
 (From WENN. 23 January 2009, 8:08 AM, PST)

User Comments:
The Star of the Film is The Sahara more (51 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Debra Winger ... Kit Moresby

John Malkovich ... Port Moresby

Campbell Scott ... George Tunner
Jill Bennett ... Mrs. Lyle

Timothy Spall ... Eric Lyle
Eric Vu-An ... Belqassim
Amina Annabi ... Mahrnia
Philippe Morier-Genoud ... Captain Broussard
Sotigui Kouyaté ... Abdelkader (as Sotigui Kouyate)
Tom Novembre ... French Immigration Officer
Ben Smaïl ... Smail (as Ben Smail)
Kamel Cherif ... Ticket Seller
Mohammed Afifi ... Mohamed (as Afifi Mohamed)
Brahim Oubana ... Young Arab
Carolyn De Fonseca ... Miss Ferry (as Carolyn de Fonseca)
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Il tè nel deserto (Italy)
more
Runtime:
138 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to casting director Juliet Taylor, the original three leads in this movie would have been William Hurt, Melanie Griffith and Dennis Quaid, but for budgetary constraints issues more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: The crew is reflected in the bus window before Port bites his tongue. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Port Moresby: Well, terra firma.
Tunner: We're probably the first tourists they've had since the war.
Kit Moresby: Tunner, we're not tourists. We're travelers.
Tunner: Oh. What's the difference?
Port Moresby: A tourist is someone who thinks about going home the moment they arrive, Tunner.
Kit Moresby: Whereas a traveler might not come back at all.
Tunner: You mean *I'm* a tourist.
Kit Moresby: Yes, Tunner. And I'm half and half.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Player (1992) more
Soundtrack:
Goulov Limma more

FAQ

have u ever feel like this?
more
7 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
The Star of the Film is The Sahara, 22 May 2006
8/10
Author: katiekeene from United States

Bernardo Bertolucci co-wrote and directed the film of the classic post WW2 novel by author, Paul Bowles, who also narrates.

The opening shot (after the credits roll over 1947 New York City and a ship disembarks from its port) is of Port's (John Malkovich) face as he awakens in a North African hotel room, the same scene that opens in the novel. Debra Winger is her most attractive as his young wife,'Kit.' They are accompanied by a randy travel companion, 'Tunner.'

The "casbah" atmosphere of the Moslem city's narrow stone streets, flooded with Arab denizens, camels, livestock invites the viewer in.

As soon as the odious "Mrs. Lyle" and her sweaty, overweight son came into the fly-ridden hotel lobby in the hot sultry desert nowhere, I knew I'd love to hate them.

John Malkovich is seduced by a street-smart, young Arab who beckons him to follow through dark streets into a girl prostitute's desert tent. (live chickens inside are a wonderful touch.)

The Sheltering Sky is a good representation of the novel. The book's narrative of setting, characters, and plot is dramatically envisioned and colored by the reader's point of view and imagination. We literally make the story ours; so when we watch the film version, we tend to judge the director's interpretation seriously.

Bertolucci's vision was entertaining and realized well, especially the lead character: the vast Sahara Desert, and exotic ambiance; the cinematography was beautiful. i look forward to watching it on DVD.

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Better Film Of All Time supermaxou114
I still dont get it thurrockparanormal
Why did Debra Winger leave at the end of the film? lebellue
only 6.5 ??? popularru
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Favorite Malkovich Moments endlessrain
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