I recommend both the film and the book. The book is better.It is a story based on the authors experience living in Morocco and traveling throughout the Sahara and into Sub-Sahara Africa in the 1940's. It deals with the Wests perception of North Africa as oreintal and exotic.Vey good stuff.
In the film,Amina Annabi plays the role of Marhnia. Debra Winger and John Malkovich also stars as leading roles of Kit and Porter.