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Passion in the Desert is a 1997 film directed by Lavinia Currier, based on a novella of the same name by French writer Honoré de Balzac. The film tells the story of a French soldier named Augustin Robert (played by Ben Daniels) who becomes lost in the desert after being separated from his regiment. During his harsh and solitary journey, he meets and befriends a wild leopard who becomes his only companion and ally.

The movie opens with Augustin being left behind by his regiment, who are on a mission to capture the fortress of Ghadamis in North Africa during the Napoleonic Wars. As he sets out to catch up with them, he gets lost and ends up stranded in the vast and unforgiving desert. With no food, water, or shelter, Augustin is forced to confront his own mortality and the harsh realities of his situation.

As he wanders aimlessly through the desert, Augustin grows weaker and more delirious. He hallucinates and sees visions of his loved ones back home, and begins to pray for salvation. It is then that he encounters the leopard, who at first seems to be stalking and threatening him. But as Augustin becomes more familiar with the animal, he realizes that it is not trying to kill him, but is rather protecting him from other predators.

As time passes, Augustin and the leopard form an unlikely bond, relying on each other for survival in the inhospitable desert. Augustin comes to see the leopard as a kind of spiritual guide, leading him towards a certain destination and offering him a glimpse into the spiritual realm. At the same time, the leopard seems to understand Augustin's pain and isolation, and offers him a kind of companionship that he has never known before.

The film is not just a survival story, however. It also explores themes of identity, spirituality, and cross-cultural understanding. Augustin, as a French soldier, is initially distrustful of the Arab tribesmen he encounters in the desert. But as he comes to know the leopard and understand the ways of the desert, he begins to see things from their perspective and to gain a new appreciation for their culture and way of life.

The cinematography in Passion in the Desert is breathtaking, with sweeping vistas of the Sahara desert and intimate close-ups of the animals and characters. The natural landscape is a character in itself, with its harsh beauty and unforgiving terrain adding to the tension and drama of the film. The score by Graeme Revell is also noteworthy, emphasizing the spiritual and mystical elements of the story.

Overall, Passion in the Desert is a stunning and deeply affecting film that explores the relationship between humans and animals, and the ways in which different cultures and belief systems can intersect and enrich each other. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of connection in even the most desolate and extreme circumstances.

Passion in the Desert is a 1997 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.