The Sheltering Sky (1990)

Director:

Bernardo Bertolucci

Writers (WGA):

Paul Bowles (book)
Mark Peploe (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 December 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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.

Plot Keywords:

Travel | Muslim | Male Female Relationship | Street Life | Husband Wife Relationship

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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)
Veronica Lazar	...	Nun
Rabea Tami	...	Blind Dancer
Nicoletta Braschi	...	French Woman
Menouer Samiri	...	Bus Driver
Keltoum Alaoui	...	Woman in Hotel du Ksar
Mohamed Ixa	...	Caravan Leader
Ahmed Azoum	...	Young Tuareg
Alghabid Kanakan	...	Young Tuareg
Gambo Alkabous	...	Young Tuareg
Sidi Kasko	...	Young Tuareg
Azahra Attayoub	...	Belqassim's Wife
Maghnia Mohamed	...	Belqassim's Wife
Oumou Alghabid	...	Belqassim's Wife
Sidi Alkhadar	...	Little Sidi
Paul Bowles	...	Narrator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mouss	...	Bit Part (uncredited)

Directed by
Bernardo Bertolucci

Writing credits (WGA)
Paul Bowles		(book)
Mark Peploe		(screenplay) and
Bernardo Bertolucci		(screenplay)

Produced by
William Aldrich	....	executive producer
Jeremy Thomas	....	producer

Original Music by
Ryûichi Sakamoto

Cinematography by
Vittorio Storaro

Film Editing by
Gabriella Cristiani

Casting by
Celestia Fox
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Gianni Silvestri

Art Direction by
Andrew Sanders

Costume Design by
James Acheson

Makeup Department
Lynda Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Paul Engelen	....	key makeup artist
Colin Jamison	....	chief hair stylist
Barry Richardson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Zakaria Alaoui	....	production manager
Mustapha Nia	....	production manager
Denise O'Dell	....	production supervisor
Michael Saxton	....	post-production supervisor
Lucio Trentini	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Abes Abdelkader	....	assistant director
Keltoum Alaoui	....	third assistant director
Claudio Amati	....	third assistant director
Serena Canevari	....	first assistant director
Ahmed Hatimi	....	first assistant director: Morocco
Fernand Moszkowicz	....	second unit director
Nicoletta Peyran	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Carlo Avvisato	....	dressing prop
Pasquale Avvisato	....	dressing prop
Sante Barelli	....	scenic artist
Les Beaver	....	rigger: Algeria
Dave Coldham	....	plasterer (as David Coldham)
Dean Coldham	....	plasterer
Bernard Collins	....	carpenter
Bob Devine	....	assistant construction manager (as Robert Devine)
Peter Dunn	....	plasterer: Algeria
Joe Fox	....	carpenter
John Frankish	....	art director: Algeria
Bonaventura Fraulo	....	property master
Geoff Kingsley	....	construction manager
Luciano Magagnini	....	stand-by prop
Roberto Magagnini	....	stand-by prop
Peter Mann	....	carpenter
Peter Mann	....	stand-by constructor
Fernand Moszkowicz	....	art consultant
Brian Neighbour	....	carpenter
Alan Powell	....	plasterer: Algeria
John Ralph	....	art director: Tangier
Anthony Rhone	....	painter
Lucy Richardson	....	draughtperson
Philip Robinson	....	art department assistant (as Phillip Robinson)
Steve Simmonds	....	art director: Quarzazate
Cynthia Sleiter	....	set dresser
Adrian Start	....	painter
Derek Whorlow	....	carpenter
David Williamson	....	carpenter
Majid Aoulad Abdellah	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Naomi Critcher	....	set dresser: UK (uncredited)

Sound Department
Don Banks	....	boom operator
Paula Connor	....	assistant dialogue editor
Alan Corder	....	assistant sound editor
Pat Gilbert	....	assistant foley editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack T. Knight	....	sound editor (as Jack Knight)
Tony Lenny	....	sound editor
Barry McCormick	....	assistant sound editor
David Motta	....	sound engineer
Rocky Phelan	....	foley editor
David Sharpe	....	assistant sound editor
Don Sharpe	....	supervising sound editor
Ivan Sharrock	....	production sound mixer
Paul Smith	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Renato Agostini	....	special effects supervisor
Danilo Bollettini	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	rostrum/optical cameraman (uncredited)
Craig Chandler	....	optical effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Felipe Alba	....	clapper loader
Giuseppe Alberti	....	focus puller (as Guiseppe Alberti)
Sergio Ambrosi	....	grip
Luigi Bernardini	....	focus puller (as Rino Bernardini)
Patrizio Bramucci	....	electrician
Alessia Bulgari	....	still photographer
Fabio Cafolla	....	dimmer operator
Filippo Cafolla	....	gaffer
Marco Carosi	....	video controller
Renato Cinquini	....	grip
Abessamad Dinia	....	second assistant camera
Paolo Ferrari	....	clapper loader
Giuseppe Gambella	....	generator operator
Antonio Gasbarini	....	electrician
Alfio Lamoratta	....	generator operator
Savino Libertazzi	....	electrician
Alfredo Marchetti	....	key grip
Stefano Marino	....	best boy
Antonio Marra	....	best boy
Angelo Novi	....	still photographer
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
Mario Pezzotti	....	grip
Les Phipps	....	rigger (as Leslie Phipps)
Michele Picciaredda	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Peter Robinson	....	Steadicam operator
Les Silk	....	rigger
Enrico Umetelli	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Riccardo Umetelli	....	clapper loader
Patrick Bramucci	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Robin Lang	....	adr casting
Ellen Lewis	....	casting associate
Zakia Tahri	....	casting: Paris

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Martin Adams	....	costume prop
Kahlid el Addar	....	costume assistant: Morocco
Abdelkrim Akallach	....	costume assistant: Morocco
Morris Angel	....	costume maker
Rosemary Badminton	....	costume maker
Michael Barber	....	costume maker
Jane Clive	....	costume painter
Shirley Cooper	....	costume prop
Naomi Critcher	....	costume properties (as Niomi Critcher)
Laura Day	....	costume maker
Magot Forster	....	costume maker
Frank Gardiner	....	assistant costume designer
Carole Hersee	....	costume maker
Amina el Kaouassma	....	costume assistant: Morocco
Julia Mansford	....	costume assistant
Richard Pointing	....	costume supervisor
Doris Raymond	....	costume researcher
John Birkinshaw	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Helen Christie	....	jewellery maker (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Roger Cherrill	....	post-production
Jocelyn Cousins	....	post-production secretary
Oliver Krimpas	....	post-production runner
Aldo Manni	....	negative cutter
Michael Rubin	....	assistant editor: laserdisc
Elvio Sordoni	....	assistant editor
Paul Swinburne	....	editorial trainee
Federico Umetelli	....	editorial trainee
Carlo La Bella	....	color supervisor (uncredited)
Neri Nazzareno	....	final colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
John Altman	....	conductor
John Altman	....	music arranger
David Arch	....	conductor
David Arch	....	music arranger
Dina Eaton	....	music editor
Zena Hambly	....	assistant music supervisor
Richard Horowitz	....	composer: North African music
Matt Howe	....	music engineer
Steve Maguire	....	assistant music editor
Spencer May	....	assistant music engineer
Ray Williams	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Pino Coletto	....	truck driver
Franco di Vincentzo	....	truck driver

Other crew
Karim Abouobayd	....	production assistant
Bachir Belhimer	....	production accountant
Mohamed Benhmamane	....	production assistant
Najib Bennani	....	production accountant
Bi Benton	....	contact: London
John Bernard	....	location manager: Morocco/Niger
Maurice Binder	....	title designer
Sabrina Canale	....	production secretary
Harhoura Diab Charifi	....	production assistant
Hazel Crombie	....	production accountant
James Cullum	....	computer and keyboard programmer
Sevilla Delofski	....	assistant to producer
Brahim Derhem	....	location manager
Benaissa Djaffar	....	production assistant
Suzanne Durrenberger	....	script supervisor
Fouzia Echaref	....	production secretary
Lou Englebert	....	researcher
Antonio Etzi	....	craft service
Carla Ferroni	....	contact: Rome
Driss Gaidi	....	location manager
Fabien Gerard	....	assistant script supervisor
Marina Grappelli	....	assistant accountant: Italy
Hind Hanif	....	production coordinator
Alan Hopkins	....	period fabrics
Vanessa Hopkins	....	period fabrics
Philip Kohler	....	location manager: Algeria (as Phillip Kohler)
Metka Kosak	....	assistant: Ms. Winger (as Metka Koshak)
Massimiliano Lancellotti	....	production runner
Roberto Malerba	....	production assistant
Michele Miriello	....	production runner
Laragh O'Dell	....	production secretary
Julie Oudot	....	secretary to producer
Joel Proust	....	supervising wrangler
Laura Rosenthal	....	secretary: Juliet Taylor
Norika Sky-Sora	....	assistant: Mr. Sakamoto
Ron Swinburne	....	financial controller
Mohamed Tahar	....	production assistant
Ann Tasker	....	unit publicist
Gabriella Toro	....	production coordinator
Riccardo Umetelli	....	projectionist
Ken Yas	....	laserdisc coordinator
Lahcen Zinoun	....	choreographer
Augusto Grassi	....	dyer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Recorded Picture Company (RPC)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• Aldrich Group
• Film Trustees Ltd.
• Sahara Company
• TAO Film

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Acteurs Auteurs Associés (AAA) (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox Video (1991) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2002) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Gaumont (2003) (France) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2005-) (Netherlands) (TV) (airing rights)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  music recorded at
• Corbett & Keene  publicity consultants
• Metropolis Studios  music recorded at
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The  orchestra
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

UK | Italy

Language:

English | French | Arabic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:M | Italy:T | Iceland:12 | Hungary:16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Sweden:11 | UK:18 | USA:R | South Korea:18 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Company:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC)

Trivia:

John Malkovich's character, Port Moresby, has the same name as the capital city of Papua New Guinea.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The crew is reflected in the mirror when Kit gets out of bed alone.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Oi treis harites: Kai o Theos eplase... tin Bebeka (#2.25)" (????)

Soundtrack:

Jillalla Music

For me an initiation

Please do not read this review if you have not yet seen the film, because I find it necessary to discuss elements of the film which reveal the plot.

The whole film was for me a long introduction into the silence of myself. I like the desert a lot, am not afraid of the void, when the mind can finally be still. Port also actually came home to Africa. He was ready to die, ready to leave behind his intellectuality, to get rid of the inner mess that was himself. Although he seemed unconscious of it, his inner soul brought him by force to his own roots. When in delirium his hands dance happily, demanding the music to continue, to push him through and out of this existence, Kit is left aside and alone, madness kissing her forehead for the first time, unable to stop the approaching avalanche which will sweep over both of their lives, leaving one dead. Kit, ...how one must feel going to a foreign country to mate again with the mate with whom you, through so many silly, careless incidents, have lost essential contact - and to suddenly find him dead and silent lying in front of you in the vastness of an indifferent desert. The desert we all live in unawares. "Oh, God, what have I done, how could I have allowed this to go so far?" Suddenly she wakes up to notice the immense impact of nothingness.

Her mind broken, she goes off with a Bedouin, and this is actually what I like most about the film. It allows me to let my mind break too, traveling with her through the desert, mostly listening to the silent sound of camels and bells and voices crying out in a strange unknown language.

Some of the professional critics didn't to go down that path. They need their thoughts to run incessantly, .. for them it must have certainly been a threatening movie, or so their comments would suggest.