The Sheltering Sky

1990, Drama/Adventure, 2h 17m

26 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

The Sheltering Sky puts its talented stars at odds with a misguided and largely unsatisfying adaptation of potentially unfilmable source material. Read critic reviews

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The Sheltering Sky Photos

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Movie Info

An American couple (John Malkovich, Debra Winger) drift toward emptiness in postwar North Africa.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Drama, Adventure, Romance
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Bernardo Bertolucci
  • Producer:
    Jeremy Thomas
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $1.4M
  • Runtime:
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround

Cast & Crew

John Malkovich
Port Moresby
Debra Winger
Kit Moresby
Campbell Scott
George Tunner
Jill Bennett
Mrs. Lyle
Timothy Spall
Eric Lyle
Eric Vu-An
Belqassim
Bernardo Bertolucci
Director
William Aldrich
Executive Producer
Jeremy Thomas
Producer
Richard Horowitz
Original Music
Vittorio Storaro
Cinematographer
Gabriella Cristiani
Film Editing
Celestia Fox
Casting
Juliet Taylor
Casting
Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Production Design
Gianni Silvestri
Production Design
Andrew Sanders
Art Director
Abes Abdelkader
Assistant Director
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Sheltering Sky

All Critics (26) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (13)
Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Full Review… Variety Staff Variety Full Review… Vincent Canby New York Times Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Full Review… Hal Hinson Washington Post Full Review… Monica Dorenkamp OutWeek Full Review… Nathanael Hood Nate Hood Reviews Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Full Review… Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Full Review… Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com
View All Critic Reviews (26)

Audience Reviews for The Sheltering Sky

  • Dec 13, 2009
    More of an aesthetic venture than an actual filmic one. Deservedly praised for it's cinematography even if it is more than just reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia. Especially the gimmick of panning from right to left almost throughout the film to symbolize a journey. Some good performances makes it worthwhile, but ultimately too long. The last third is virtually without dialogue, and it didn't really capture me thoroughly so I gradually lost interest in where our characters went. Both geographically and psychologically.
    a z Super Reviewer
  • Sep 27, 2008
    A painfully long movie...
    Audrey L Super Reviewer
  • Apr 02, 2008
    The worst!!! When its finally over you find yourself asking, how can so many talented people make something this pretentious and odious.
    jay n Super Reviewer
  • Mar 22, 2008
    Bertolucci's worst film. I would rather tear my eyes out than see this again.
    Anthony V Super Reviewer
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