SOUS LE SABLE (UNDER THE SAND)
France, 2000, 105 minutes, Colour.
Charlotte Rampling, Alexandra Stewart.
Directed by Francois Ozon.
Under the Sand is a fine film. It is a portrait of a widow first of all unable to face the reality of her husband's death, using every kind of defence mechanism, imagining that he was still present. Ultimately, she has to accept her husband's death, listen to the advice of friends, begin new relationships, visit her husband's mother who has a vindictive attitude towards her, face the possibility that her husband was depressed and killed himself. When his body is found, she makes the effort to see is body and is then ready to continue her life.
Charlotte Rampling gives an excellent performance as the widow, finely controlled, full of dignity yet very vulnerable, especially in her defensiveness. Alexandra Stewart is her best friend, offering advice, trying to match-make.
The film is very simply and straightforwardly made. It was directed by Francois Ozon who began his career with such black films as Sitcom, Criminal Lovers, Water Dripping on Burning Rocks. With this film, he went up onto the A-list and his next films were Eight Women with an ensemble French cast led by Catherine Deneuve.
1. A portrait of a wife, widow? Charlotte Rampling's screen presence, dignity, vulnerability? The search for identity and meaning in her life?
2. The French settings, the apartment in the city, her friends' houses, gymnasium, restaurants? A comfortable and affluent environment? The coast, the holiday house? The action at sea in the search for the husband?
3. The title, the beach, secrets under the sand? The death of Jean? The musical score?
4. Jean and Marie, the long years of marriage, their careers? The dominance of Jean's mother? Marie unable to have children? Their comfortable life together? Questions as to whether he was depressed, bored? Suicide? Leaving Marie and starting a new life? An accident?
5. Their going on holidays, the normal preparation, the meal together? Going to the beach, her reading, his going for a swim? His disappearance, her initial lack of concern, her anxiety, the search, the authorities, the lifeguards and their attempts to find the body, the helicopters?
6. Marie and her return to Paris, dining with friends, chatter, the meeting with Vincent? Amanda and her husband and their support? Her talking as if Jean was alive? Her refusal to face the reality of his death?
7. Going about her ordinary life, at home, cooking, going to the gymnasium, meetings with Amanda?
8. Her imagining Jean in the house, communicating with him, talking, his approval and love? In the house, with Vincent, his approving her relationship?
9. The meeting with Vincent, Amanda and her matchmaking, their discussions in the kitchen? Vincent giving her a lift, the beginning of the affair? Her attitude, love, reserve? Passion yet still remembering Jean?
10. The time passing, her resuming her ordinary life, the financial advice but her still presuming that Jean was alive?
11. Communication from the authorities, the discussion about the body, the description of the body in gruesome detail, her wanting to see the body, completely? Going to the morgue, viewing the body?
12. Her final acceptance of Jean's death? The visit to the mother-in-law, her nasty attitude about having no family, knowing her son better than his wife knew him, his leaving her through boredom? Marie's comment that the old woman would end in an institution - and the woman retorting that Marie would go there first?
13. The reality of life, acceptance of death, having to make new decisions and start a new life? The author's perception of the psychology of a woman in this situation? Audiences being invited to empathise with her?
