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:

Referenced in Searching for Debra Winger (2002)

If you think you might like this you probably will.

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.