Unter dem Sand

I just saw this film on cable last night, and thought it was wonderful - extremely moving, almost terrifying at times. Charlotte Rampling gave what was truly one of the two or three best, if not the best, performances by an actress in 2000 (take that, Julia Roberts). Extremely affecting, and highly recommended. However, I am confused by the cast list - I could have sworn that the actress playing Marie's best friend was Gena Rowlands, but she's not listed anywhere, so I'm not sure it was her after all. A great movie, rent it if you haven't seen it.

The French movie Under the Sand (2000) was written and directed by François Ozon.

It stars Charlotte Rampling as Marie Drillon, a loving wife whose husband disappears from the beach, and her life, suddenly and with no explanation. The remainder of the movie shows us how Marie deals with this bizarre, horrible situation. (Not well, by any definition.)

Charlotte Rampling was very beautiful, and it's obvious that director Ozon is absolutely entranced by her beauty. (At one point--in case we missed it--a saleswoman says to Marie that "the dress shows off your figure.")

For the entire movie, the camera is directed at Rampling, often with long closeups of her face. (Rampling was 54 at the time, but looked 45.) This is a film about Charlotte Rampling's beauty. Without Rampling there wouldn't be a movie.

I had mixed feelings about this film. The basic concept of a a woman forced to deal with the disappearance of the husband she loves is interesting. The way Marie copes--or doesn't cope--with the situation is also interesting.

However, I prefer a movie with more actors than just one. The film as Ozon gives it to us depends on us wanting to see Rampling--and essentially only Rampling--in every scene. If she weren't beautiful, would the movie work at all?

We saw this film on DVD, which was fine. After the opening at the beach, most of the action takes place indoors. Under the Sand has an IMDb rating of 7.1. I agree with this, and rated it 7.

Charlotte Rampling's marvellously judged performance as an Englishwoman whose French husband disappears whilst swimming is quite simply excellent. This is a perfect vehicle for Rampling as she is now, a beautiful mature woman who just oozes class. Without histrionics, she conveys the total sense of desperation at the loss of her husband, something which she will obviously never come to terms with. In terms of plot, this film is quite thin, but it is well worth watching for the central performance, which is thoroughly moving. Could be very bleak and depressing as a subject, but actually isn't at all. The time passed very quickly - my ultimate test of a good film!

As a film script writer and director, Ozon has evolved and matured in "The Swimming Pool" and "In the house," developing his pet themes involving sex lives and mental infirmities. But the the real value of this film will remain Ms Rampling's performance which is comparable to her turns in "The Night Porter, " "The Damned," and "Hannah." She is evidently magical whenever she works with Ozon.

I disagree with a few comments below: first, I believe it 'is' appropriate to switch back and forth between French and English because the character is an english literature professor in Paris and has bilingual friends; second, I feel it is unfair of anyone to characterize the main character as elderly, she is sensual, attractive, and tentatively has a good life to live in her future. I think the loss to the woman of her husband is like suddenly confronting the loss of the last 25 years of her life. To be able to cope with this changed reality she must cautiously explore a new experience; she is afraid to let go of her past and afraid to take hold of a future. I believe at the end of the movie we are shown that she will continue to refuse to relinquish the past, yet, invariably, it is shown to her that she must go on, embracing the present, as must we all.