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The Sheltering Sky Reviews

1990

60
from 1532 members

Bernardo Bertolucci (THE CONFORMIST, THE LAST EMPEROR) directs this tale concerning three Americans who find more than they bargained for as they travel through post-war Africa: an adaptation of Paul Bowles's novel. Kit (Debra Winger) and Port (John Malkovich) are a married couple separated by a strange schism; they try to .. Read more

Starring	Debra Winger, John Malkovich, Campbell Scott, Jill Bennett
Director	Bernardo Bertolucci
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of The Sheltering Sky
View all critics' reviews (5)
- "...John Malkovich and Debra Winger are superb....And from the film's first moments there is a sense of place both terrifyingly vast and stifling..."
- 10339
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
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Most helpful member's review of The Sheltering Sky
View all members' reviews (19)
- - 13
  - 0
  Stunning Cinematography
  
  Bertolucci's film is a stunning portrail of post-war Morocco. The landscape photography is exceptional and the locations are carefully chosen. The plot is a... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 16041
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Martin
  - Lincolnshire
  - 26 Aug 2004 at 08:13
Most recent members' reviews of The Sheltering Sky
View all members' reviews (19)
- - 0
  - 0
  go there!
  
  This is one that will make you want to read the book. I hadn't, and for the first half hour I thought I was watching a menage a trois featuring elegant F ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1107058
- - ArthouseAlec
  - 18 reviews
  - 31 Mar 2012 at 11:33
- - 0
  - 0
  Are you a traveller or a tourist?
  
  A very intelligent film. If you allow yourself to get taken on the journey from the familiar to the other- it really will get under your skin. It was a bit slow... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1090327
- - a customer
  - 08 Feb 2012 at 23:41
- - 0
  - 1
  The Sheltering Sky
  
  The Sheltering Sky – this film didn’t appeal to me slow, dark and tedious throughout. I thought the cast might pull it but didn’t. I don’t ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 944046
- - ian3
  - 538 reviews
  - Salisbury
  - 02 Dec 2010 at 14:20
- - 1
  - 1
  doing things by halves
  
  The film on this disk starts with the usual title sequence in the original widescreen format then jumps to pan and scan 4:3. So half the film is missing - and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 898873
- - Projectionista
  - 34 reviews
  - Etchingham
  - 15 Jun 2010 at 07:47
- - 3
  - 0
  An authentic work of cinematic art.
  
  There aren't many films that are brave enough to truly be themselves. Like human beings in many respects.
  
  In life - it is only people who have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 810661
- - telemetry9
  - 5 reviews
  - Bangor
  - 15 Sep 2009 at 10:06
- - 0
  - 0
  Atmospheric
  
  African setting is the major fresh element in this film. Clearly dominates the self - world of the actors (and characters) Debra Winger and Timothy Spall ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 797087
- - Forpor
  - 40 reviews
  - Henley-On-Thames
  - 12 Aug 2009 at 17:22
- - 0
  - 0
  Disappointed
  
  The film began in the most wonderful way.....Casablanca setting - costumes were perfect for the time the story was set. 3 travellers in those days - beautiful ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 614494
- - LISA BOSTOCK
  - LONDON ENGLAND
  - 16 Aug 2008 at 08:40
- - 0
  - 1
  Customer Review
  
  It is rare for me to give up on a film but I couldn't face the whole appalling fiasco! What a pity they didn't just shoot the glorious scenery without ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 579506
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 23 Jun 2008 at 15:22
- - 0
  - 0
  The Sheltering Sky
  
  I really did not understand this film. I could'nt wailt for it to finish, before it finished me!!
  
  Report this review
- 534713
- - sugarlump
  - 1 review
  - Stoke-on-Trent
  - 04 Mar 2008 at 14:36
- - 0
  - 0
  bowled over? non.
  
  based on the novel of the same name, the sheltering sky is a tale of a white american couple and their travels, and sexual adventures, in north africa. lurking ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 491267
- - lloyd
  - 47 reviews
  - cardiff, wales
  - 04 Nov 2007 at 22:11
View all members' reviews (19)

- - 13
  - 0
  Stunning Cinematography
  
  Bertolucci's film is a stunning portrail of post-war Morocco. The landscape photography is exceptional and the locations are carefully chosen. The plot is a... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 16041
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Martin
  - Lincolnshire
  - 26 Aug 2004 at 08:13
- - 6
  - 2
  Shelter From The Snooze
  
  I'm aware that this may make me sound irrevocably plebian, but I really did find this a snoozefest. You can tick all the right boxes: Meaningful, Beautiful... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 21633
- - Ewen Robertson
  - London, England
  - 13 Oct 2004 at 17:00
- - 5
  - 0
  Thought Provoking
  
  Visited Tangiers after the film. Loved the Film, didn't like Tangiers, but back to the point.
  
  Somewhat dated now, and reminiscent (or should it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 307036
- - Bingoswestry
  - 13 reviews
  - oswestry
  - 28 Jul 2004 at 21:30
- - 3
  - 0
  An authentic work of cinematic art.
  
  There aren't many films that are brave enough to truly be themselves. Like human beings in many respects.
  
  In life - it is only people who have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 810661
- - telemetry9
  - 5 reviews
  - Bangor
  - 15 Sep 2009 at 10:06
- - 2
  - 0
  ace
  
  ace,top film, i suggest a curry and some lagers for this great film
  
  Report this review
- 198128
- - a customer
  - ace
  - 24 Jan 2006 at 22:41
- - 0
  - 0
  May be a flop, but it's a quality flop!
  
  Debra Winger & John Malkovitch excel in compelling hedonistic and tragic post-war journey through Morocco and through their strange, sexually tense ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 162056
- - a customer
  - Buckinghamshire
  - 17 Oct 2005 at 11:06
- - 1
  - 1
  do not bother
  
  this was the longest waste of time i have ever spent .... you keep watching hoping that something will happen, but it never does
  
  Report this review
- 184950
- - a customer
  - hampstead
  - 15 Dec 2005 at 11:38
- - 1
  - 1
  Great scenery is no reason to watch
  
  It probably does show off the scenery better than the backdrops to Palin's travels and is truly stunning at times. But if the script looses the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 317370
- - grahamfilms
  - Bucks
  - 27 Dec 2004 at 18:01
- - 0
  - 0
  Disapppinting
  
  I remember this film coming out and all the surrounding hype. I was looking forward to revisiting it on dvd. The film looks stunning thanks to Storaro's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 358771
- - DavidL
  - 25 reviews
  - Dunblane
  - 24 Jan 2006 at 12:48
- - 0
  - 0
  bowled over? non.
  
  based on the novel of the same name, the sheltering sky is a tale of a white american couple and their travels, and sexual adventures, in north africa. lurking ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 491267
- - lloyd
  - 47 reviews
  - cardiff, wales
  - 04 Nov 2007 at 22:11

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Critics' reviews
- "...John Malkovich and Debra Winger are superb....And from the film's first moments there is a sense of place both terrifyingly vast and stifling..."
- 10339
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...Vittorio Storaro's photography is brilliant, the most dramatic desert footage since LAWRENCE OF ARABIA..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars
- 10341
- - USA Today
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Paul Bowles' novel presents the problem of interiorisation, and a presiding morbidity that would clear most... read more on Time Out
- 44909
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
- "...Bertolucci's most seductive, most hypnotic movie....[Malkovich and Winger] are extraordinarily fine..."
- 10340
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Austere, stunningly photographed movie that yields rewards if approached on its own terms.
- 31658
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Sheltering Sky
  
  Bernardo Bertolucci (THE CONFORMIST, THE LAST EMPEROR) directs this tale concerning three Americans who find more than they bargained for as they travel through post-war Africa: an adaptation of Paul Bowles's novel. Kit (Debra Winger) and Port (John Malkovich) are a married couple separated by a ...