Taken from Paul 'Big Daddy of the Beats' Bowles's
semi-autobiographical novel, this is Bertolucci's first attempt at
the Aaaaaaaafrica movie (Besieged is ten times better). Ignoring the
festering insanity and misogyny of the book, Bertie turns out a piece of
pornographic eye-candy about as realistic as Italian fond memories of
African 'empire'. Malkovich is underwhelming as the American writer
trying to reawaken his talent and his marriage with a quick jaunt
through Saharan regions – he looks particularly uncomfortable as a
romantic hero. Sand in the sheets? Bowles hated it, understandably.
More Mills and Boon than Naked Lunch.
