De Sable et de Sang

The title of Sand and Blood has led some to assume that this 1988 French film is a remake of the old warhorse Blood and Sand. In fact, the only thing the two properties have in common is a bullfighter as a protagonist. A sensitive matador (Patrick Catalifo) grows weary of killing and tries to escape his chosen profession. He meets a young, musically inclined doctor (Sami Frey) who likewise despises bullfighting. The two form a warm and giving friendship, which threatens to rupture when a woman enters the picture.