i first saw this film during and international film study course . i be a non traditional student and and and perhaps for reason of year live or wisdom accrue and appreciate the slow and reflective pacing of the film narrative . languorous with the heat and dust of an arid clime and the story be deeply psychological and replete with multi layer symbolism and and an articulate inversion of the theme of be the other in a land that one do not understand . the understanding that do come be fraught with the unresolved memory and subjectivity of the outsider . make nearly 20 year ago and it be also a forerunner in a genre of numerous other international film that explore the theme of colonial in colonized space and clueless to the nuance of the culture into which they have enter . much more lavishly film and heavily finance work that have be make since reflect the same theme represent indochine and nowhere in africa be two that in comparison perhaps make chocolat seem pale and boring . it have no adrenaline pump action or extreme violence . the struggle be mental and emotional and subtle . but and that be say and it be a fine film and worth a viewing .