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Passion In The Desert

posted 19 years ago by TemporaryOne-1
7 replies | jump to latest

First, there is no review that is as luminous and exalting as this one:

http://imdb.com/name/nm0199842/board/inline/510850?d=510850#510850

But I have to add a few more emotions.

Passion In The Desert exemplifies spatial grander. It is a visual narrative, illuminated by the magnificent cinematography. Passion was filmed on location in the deserts of Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, and Tunisia.

We are in Egypt, 1798. Augustin, a Napoleanic soldier, is escorting writer and artist Jean-Michel Venture De Paradis on an official mission to document, measure, draw, and paint the cultural landmarks of the Egypt: its dunes, stupendous ruins, and mysterious people.

But, can you truly "document" majestic sandscapes, fractured edifices, and wild Bedouins? Can you truly capture the essence of Egypt, nature, man, and time?

Jean and Augustin become lost in the mesmerizing glittering, gold desert, whose vastness overwhelms their senses.

"You can't get lost in Egypt! There's the Nile, and there's the sea!", says the dehydrated Augustin, and soon he discovers an ancient, winding cave that leads to a palatial ruin.

Delirious and near-delusional, he attempts to rest; a perplexing sound rouses him; his eyes, body, and emotions become hypnotically locked in time as he stumbles into a sensual, sensory experience.

A wild, sleek female tiger stares back at him, and their love affair begins.

Augustin and his tigress, as all lovers do, suffer the slings and arrows of fortune. Their wordless communication is fascinating to watch, as they both prowl gracefully around each other, their strange love growing deeper and deeper.

Eventually, Augustin becomes a wild tiger, and Simoon (the name he gives his tigress) becomes strikingly human in her expressions and actions.

The end of their affair is tragically imminent and inglorious, reinforcing a central theme: man's pathological desire to dominate ends in ruins.

The French destroy Egypt's ancient ruins and their culture, the old writer destroys the beauty of nature, men destroy the love of women.

[–] rivethead808 19 years ago

I really appreciate it that someone has taken the time to comment on this wonderful film. It is actualy in my top 20 films of all time in fact. This film speaks worlds to me with the fact that it carries out every single human emotion in such a fluid natural form. Everything from fear, desperation, understanding, respect, trust, passion, lust, love, and ultimately jealousy and the human "instinct" to control (greed). The end, although extremely sad (I cry every time) is the only way this film could have ended IMO. In every human being there is the overwhelming urge to control something that you simply cannot "own" and that is remarkably shown as he attempts to keep her from her true nature. Even though the end is sad, I cannot help, but go through my own personal "flashbacks" of sorts and see just how much each character understood each other and crossed animal and human boundaries in what was obviously a love like no other. The cinematography is astounding capturing the beauty that even a vast empty desert can have. What other film can thoroughly captivate without saying a word like Passion In The Desert? (maybe Begotten, but in a totally different sense). I wish this was on DVD, but sadly I dont think that it will happen in the near future unless Lavinia Currier chooses to direct another film that sees more light than this one attracting more people to this underrated masterpiece.

I do have to correct you Temporary One, though, her name is actually Simoom (although I find myself saying Simoon at times just because it flows off the tongue so much easier) and she is in fact a Leopard, not a Tiger, but its awesome that there is someone out there besides myself that has actually seen this and loves it

Exterminate all rational thought. That is the conclusion I have come to

[–] TemporaryOne-1 19 years ago

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Most people never bother to read long posts. I know, she is a leopard, and her name is Simoom. That is what happens when you write reviews off the top of your head for films that you haven't seen in 5+ years.

This is an astounding film, and so is the musical soundtrack. I hope that Lavinia Currier returns to directing.

European/International films are the best.

[–] SideShawbob 18 years ago

just saw this movie and all I can say is WOW! Loved it. Loved how the french soldier loses his humanity and gives himself over to his primal instincts, only to reject and repress them which ultimately leads to the loss of a love and a part of himself. Great film!

[–] Courtesy_Flush 18 years ago

It is shot beautifully and I love the score.

Excellent review, by the way.

...Foo

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mimosa_mirabella 14 years ago

You have an excellent understanding of the film which some posters lack. They also haven't bothered to learn that the film is an adaptation of a short story by the 19th century French author Honore Balzac.

[–] Maya55555 10 years ago

To Everyone;

I love this film, as it gets under your skin.

The ending makes me cry. That takes a lot to do.

Excellent review by the OP.

"What is TRUTH?"
I WANT AN ErJen1 SIGNATURE, ALSO.