honore de balzacs genuinely bizarre short story loosely based gets unsettling albeit breathtakingly filmed treatment sort forbiddenlove blossoms period time man beast early part nineteenth century thin blonde english actor ben daniels plays role young soldier napoleonic wars gets lost whilst escorting exiled french painter across rugged dangerous landscapes gobi desert literally going around circles two men give ever trying reach civilization again thus decides against better judgment mind you go separate ways promise returning exact spot water source actually found course daniels character comes encounter creature a wild untamed female leopard eventually form seemingly unbreakable bond rather love saves life nearly destroys films end exquisite cinematography minimalist dialog somewhat demented story arguably hints possible bestiality three scenes ultimately lead professional critics pan film pretentious overlong rubbish film exactly tastes mind you find subtle though decidedly leftofcenter mixture fantasy surreal sumptuous atmosphere highlighted fact half flick actor ben daniels forced perform opposite wild animal four leopards actually used opposed one plain common sense slight knowledge theatrics dictates must maddening difficult job managed pull quite brilliantly ask me overall think passion desert takes warm to patient person willing give time fact cast uniquely original spell spite everything unlike platonic human animal relationship stories need require talking pig monkey shaggy dog keep interest throughout  