"Beneath the Sands": A Tale of Death and Rebirth
Twenty-five years ago, François Ozon's groundbreaking film, Under the Sand, made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. This captivating drama, starring Charlotte Rampling, has since become a staple in the world of cinema.
Under the Sand was a turning point in Ozon's career, reviving Rampling's as well. The film was nominated for three Césars: Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress. It marked a remarkable meeting between an actress and a filmmaker, often described as one of the most beautiful in cinema history.
The film tells the story of Marie, a woman who cannot accept her husband's absence. She keeps him alive in the intimacy of their Parisian apartment, refusing to believe he is gone. This haunting narrative exerts an irresistible fascination, playing with subtlety and ambiguity.
Frédéric Bonnaud, in his review, praised the film's beauty, illness, state of longing, and constant feeding of a new promise of beauty and mystery. René Prédal analysed that Under the Sand undermines the foundations of existence and disrupts the quiet happiness of a fulfilled woman.
In Under the Sand, Jean's disappearance is summarised as happening without warning, between two shots, and his heavy body evaporating into nature. No one saw him disappear or reappear. The concept of the film was inspired by a real-life event experienced by Ozon and his parents on a beach.
The film's resolution is played with to escape again and again, as if nothing heals, nothing closes or exhausts. The director's brilliant choice in not showing Jean going to the sea adds to the film's enigmatic allure.
Ozon discusses the materiality of the ghost and felt absence in daily life in Under the Sand. Ingmar Bergman was a fervent admirer of the film, further cementing its place in cinematic history.
As we celebrate key titles that mark important anniversaries, Under the Sand constitutes an interesting case of a creator who fantasised an answer to an enigma that had obsessed him for years. The film, available on DVD, continues to captivate audiences with its haunting narrative and beautiful storytelling.
Recently, Under the Sand was shown again at the Berlinale, 25 years after its original release, but the search results do not provide details on who specifically organised this screening or the exact reason for the re-presentation. Nonetheless, the film's enduring appeal is a testament to its timeless quality and the lasting impact it has had on the world of cinema.
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