Sous le sable (2000)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

François Ozon

Writers:

Emmanuèle Bernheim (writer)
François Ozon (writer)

Release Date:

4 May 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Can love vanish without a trace?

Plot:

When her husband goes missing at the beach, a female professor begins to mentally disintegrate as her denial of his disappearance becomes delusional.

Plot Keywords:

Beach | Professor | Delusional | Disappearance | Denial

Awards:

8 nominations

Cast

Charlotte Rampling	...	Marie Drillon
Bruno Cremer	...	Jean Drillon
Jacques Nolot	...	Vincent
Alexandra Stewart	...	Amanda
Pierre Vernier	...	Gérard
Andrée Tainsy	...	Suzanne
Maya Gaugler	...	German woman
Damien Abbou	...	Chief lifeguard
David Portugais	...	Young lifeguard
Pierre Soubestre	...	Policeman
Agathe Teyssier	...	In charge of luxury store
Laurence Martin	...	Apartment seller
Jean-François Lapalus	...	Paris doctor
Laurence Mercier	...	Paris doctor's secretary
Fabienne Luchetti	...	Pharmacist

Also Known As:

Under the Sand (International: English title) (USA)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Hong Kong:III | Italy:T | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:Unrated | South Korea:18 | Germany:6 | Canada:R (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Lit-et-Mixte, Landes, France

Company:

Euro Space

Quotes:

Marie Drillon: I am his wife, and I'm telling you, this is *not* him!

Movie Connections:

Followed by Le temps qui reste (2005)

A moody blue film

Francois Ozon's film 'Under The Sand' has a dark, sombre scenario. French couple Marie and Jean have been married for a quarter of century. They take their annual vacation un the south of France. The drama unfolds as they're enjoying a beautiful summer's day at a local beach. While Marie lies down to have a sunbake, Jean, after a reflective glance at the surf, rises, and heads into the surf for a swim. After dozing off, Marie wakes up to find that her husband is not lying beside her. She searches the beach and he is nowhere to be found. He has vanished, her nightmarish ordeal has begun. The best decription I can find for this film is that it charts the intense, oscillating experiences of one woman as she has to face the loss of her husband in a horrible way. Charlotte Rampling's performance as Maris is strong. The whole gamut of experiences are revealed. Even as Marie tries to accept a new lover but struggles, because her husband is still very much with her. This film was dark, even grim, but recommended.