Passion in the Desert (1997)

Young French officer Augustin Robert accompanies artist Jean-Michel Venture de Paradis to Egypt as part of Napoleon's campaign, tasked with documenting the nation’s magnificent monuments amid the chaos of war. When they become separated from their unit during a skirmish, the pair finds themselves lost in the unforgiving desert, desperately struggling to survive. Amidst the harsh landscape, Augustin encounters a leopard he names Simoom, forging an unexpected and profound connection that challenges his understanding of nature and life in the midst of conflict.