If you're looking for an intelligent, extraordinarily beautiful, well-acted film with a highly unusual topic, "Passion in the Desert" is a true find.

It's the story of a young soldier in Napoleon's army who comes to be lost in the Sahara desert. He escapes capture from a tribe by hiding away in some ruins and while there, a female leopard befriends him, or maybe it's the other way around. The relationship that builds between these two is truly remarkable with the soldier figuratively becoming the leopard's lover.

The behavior of the actor and the leopard is detailed in stunning photography against the exotic backdrop of sand dunes and ruins. Such a simple story in a simple setting and yet we become so enthralled by the behaviors of the characters that we can't help but care what happens to them. The ending is equally stunning.

The story is actually from the novella by Honore de Balzac and stars Ben Daniels as the errant soldier.

Lotta says take in the Passion. It's good for the soul.