Leading lady Charlotte Rampling gives a striking performance as college professor Marie Drillon in Francois Ozon’s French film about Marie’s life after her husband’s disappearance.
The opening scenes of Under the Sand are quiet in mood and atmosphere, reflecting the serene lives of Marie and her husband Jean (Bruno Cremer). The middle-aged couple enjoys a summer vacation on a secluded beach in Les Landes. Jean leaves Marie sunbathing to go for a swim in the ocean. When she awakens, she finds he has disappeared.
A year later, Marie is living as if Jean is still with her, and the rest of the film is a moving exploration of her complicated grief. Although living in her own constructed reality where she comes home to a loving husband, she is touched by sadness. Still, the audience understands Marie’s awareness of her true situation—although this is never expressly communicated.
Marie moves on with another man, even as she clings to Jean. For the longest time, Vincent (Jacques Nolot) accepts her present-tense references to her husband. That is until he doesn’t, and she pushes him away for this non-acceptance—but mostly for not being Jean.
A climactic scene with her mother-in-law finally spurs Marie on to finally seek answers about Jean’s disappearance. Did he die by drowning or suicide? Did he simply wish to abandon her and seek a new life? While viewers will accept a conclusion based on the evidence presented throughout the film, Marie will decide her own reality in an ending that is stirring and bittersweet.
Under the Sand compels its audience to look closely and feel deeply. The film’s ultimate triumph—aside from Rampling’s compelling performance—is its ability to subtly tug at the heartstrings rather than force overt messages and emotional scenes. Would make a great purchase for foreign language shelves. Highly recommended.