Le roman d'un spahi: Love, heat, and bad timing

Is this for you?

If you like your dramas with a side of colonial-era melancholy and enough romantic yearning to fill a desert, sure. But if you get annoyed by characters making the exact wrong choice every single time they have a chance to breathe, you might want to skip it.

It’s not exactly a light watch. It’s got that heavy, dusty atmosphere that feels like it’s clinging to your clothes. 🌵

The Setup

Jean is a spahi, which is basically just a fancy way of saying he’s a soldier who spends a lot of time looking intense on horseback. He falls for Cora, who is clearly bad news. She’s one of those screen sirens who treats people like disposable lighters.

When she inevitably stabs him in the back—metaphorically, mostly—he runs off to Fatou. It’s the classic rebound, but with higher stakes because of the social pressure. The army doesn't like it. The locals don't exactly throw a parade for them either.

Small things that stuck

There’s a moment where Jean is just staring off into the distance, and the camera lingers on his face until you start wondering if he’s forgotten his lines. It’s weirdly hypnotic.

The desert sets have this weird, stage-bound quality that makes everything feel slightly claustrophobic. It’s not realistic, but it’s definitely intentional. It feels like a theater play that decided to wander outside for a smoke.

A weird detour

Sometimes the movie feels like it shares the same DNA as Bonds of Love, just with more sand and less interior decorating. It’s that same sense of people being crushed by their own bad decisions.

I couldn't help but think about how much Jean would probably hate the chaos of Gossip. He’s too busy being dramatic to deal with that kind of petty noise.

The Vibe

The middle of the film sags a bit, like a hammock that’s been left out in the rain. You can tell they ran out of ways to show 'longing' and just started showing more sunsets.

Mireille Balin is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. She makes the 'man-eater' routine feel almost sympathetic, which is a neat trick. She’s the only one who seems to know what movie she’s actually in.

• The uniforms look like they’re made of cardboard.
• The lighting in the tent scenes is surprisingly moody.
• Jean cries. A lot. Maybe too much?
• The ending hits you like a brick, even if you saw it coming from the first reel.

It’s not perfect. It’s barely even 'good' in the traditional sense. But it has this weird, persistent hum of sadness that keeps you watching. You watch it for the atmosphere, not the logic. Don't look for logic. You won't find it here. 🏜️