Regarde la mer (1997)

Director:

François Ozon

Writer:

François Ozon (writer)

Release Date:

28 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

Sasha, a young British woman, is living with her baby daughter at Ile d'Yeu, a peaceful beach community...

Plot Keywords:

Tent | Beach | Baby | Shorts | Towel

Cast

Sasha Hails	...	Sasha
Marina de Van	...	Tatiana (as Marina De Van)
Samantha	...	Sioffra, The Baby
Paul Raoux	...	Sasha's Husband

Also Known As:

See the Sea (USA)

Runtime:

52 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Certification:

Hong Kong:III | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Ile d'Yeu, Vendée, France

Company:

Fidélité Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Het glazen huis: Eigen agenda (#1.52)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Panis Angelicus

Not bad, like an extended 'short'

Saw this film on the Sundance Channel a couple times now. It's really not anything new, but it's still a haunting story of frustration, need, and (mis)trust. Sasha seems to be happy (and even says so) with her current settled life, yet there are displays of her boredom and frustration throughout the film (the baby keeps her occupied, yet at the same time it also won't let her sleep, read, etc.). She is also in need of some sex, as a couple scenes prove.

I suppose probably being as bored as she is more so than being polite, she befriends Tatiana after being wary of her at first. Strangely, she starts to place way to much trust in this person (leaving her to watch the baby, etc.), but that just shows Sasha is so pent up that she'll take any chance she gets to have some relief. As they get chummier, Tatiana starts to show to the audience signs of being a bit unstable (you got to see one such scene for yourself!), and later Sasha finds her weird notebook drawings but doesn't seem to think much of it (we all doodle, right?). Later when Sasha offers her most trusting friendliness, Tatiana finally does what she has to do, starting with a scene that at first looks more a return of friendship than what really happens. (Even though what finally happens is a bit predictable, it doesn't take away from its impact since such a thing is always disturbing and tragic.)

Overall, this was an enjoyable film, if you are into concise, well shot and acted drama with talented actresses. Also, for this particular film, it's length was just right, at just under an hour. A-