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Under The Sand Details

2000 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 2210 members

Marie and Jean are a married couple, set in the rhythms of a life spent together. As they begin their regular holiday at their country house, nothing seems amiss. But one day at the beach, while Marie naps in the sand, Jean goes for a swim and vanishes without a trace. Frantic, Marie combs the beach, then calls the lifeguards .. Read more

Starring Charlotte Rampling, Jacques Nolot, Bruno Cremer, Alexandra Stewart
Director Francois Ozon
Genres Drama, World Cinema

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Under The Sand

Marie and Jean are a married couple, set in the rhythms of a life spent together. As they begin their regular holiday at their country house, nothing seems amiss. But one day at the beach, while Marie naps in the sand, Jean goes for a swim and vanishes without a trace. Frantic, Marie combs the beach, then calls the lifeguards and local police, who are all unable to locate him. Left with unanswered questions, Marie returns to Paris alone. She attends to her familiar schedule of teaching classes, going to the gym and meeting with friends, but she is consumed by memories of her beloved Jean- unable to imagine a life without him. Tenaciously, Marie keeps the memory of her husband alive, often speaking of him as if he never disappeared. She strikes up a tentative relationship with Vincent, but is unable to make a real commitment. Ultimately she must grapple with her life alone while coping with her erotic stirrings and fantasy life.

Starring Charlotte Rampling, Jacques Nolot, Bruno Cremer, Alexandra Stewart, Pierre Vernier, Andree Tainsey
Director Francois Ozon
Studio ARTIFICIAL EYE
Run time DVD: 1 hr 34 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Drama, World Cinema
Language DVD: French
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 24 Sep 2001
Production year: 2000
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (6) of Under The Sand

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    Thirty-six years after her screen debut, Charlotte Rampling turns in the finest performance of her career in this sensitively relentless study of melancholic delusion. Convinced she still sees him every day, a sophisticated Parisian teacher (Rampling) simply refuses to accept that her husband (Bruno Cremer) drowned on their seaside holiday and treats her liaison with Jacques Nolot as a deliciously reckless adultery rather than an agonising attempt to relaunch her shattered life. Reducing dialogue to essentials and making exemplary use of cool, reflective surfaces, François Ozon confirms his reputation among French cinema's likeliest contenders, as he finds poetry and optimism in the depths of grief.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • "...A delicate and devastating film....[It] features one of the best performances of the year....It's a role of fierce demands, and Rampling meets them all..."

    • Rolling Stone
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • Most helpful member's review of Under The Sand

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  • 23 out of 23 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Rampling's Finest

    On the first morning of their annual summer vacation, Marie and Jean go to the beach. Married 25 years, they appear relaxed with each other. Marie dozes on the sand whilst Jean sets off for a swim. He never returns.

    Rampling gives possibly her finest performance as a woman confronted with immeasurable change in her life. Ozon refuses to offer neat solutions, instead leading the viewer through Marie's actions and reactions as time passes. Is Marie in complete denial or completely in control?

    Highly recommended.

      • A customer from London, England
      • Posted 08 Aug 2004 15:28

  • Most recent members' review of Under The Sand

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Tender

    This is an intimate portrait of love and loss. The camera effectively followed Charlotte Rampling around for the entire film. At times, I could almost feel her heart beat. This was assisted by a splendid soundtrack and by Rampling’s apparent ability to feel her way through every second. Although I certainly wanted her to wake up from her delusions, I was touched by her performance and impressed by the patient dedication to detail that ran through the film.

      • Gary Taylor from Sheffield
      • Posted 22 Sep 2005 09:48

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Rating breakdown

2,210 Member ratings
  • 100
141
  • 90
154
  • 80
389
  • 70
400
  • 60
473
  • 50
273
  • 40
167
  • 30
98
  • 20
73
  • 10
42

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      • Marie and Jean are a married couple, set in the rhythms of a life spent together. As they begin their regular holiday at their country house, nothing seems amiss. But one day at the beach, while ...