Review of Under the Sand (2001) by Miedy B — 15 Jan 2008

This is probably not the kind of movie that easy to like by everyone. So, if you don?t like movies that doesn?t really resolve anything than this one is not for you. The story in this movie not about finding answer, solution or to learn something from it. Some said that you need to be adult (physically and mentally) to really understand the real concept in this movie.

Charlotte Ramping who gave brilliant performance in Swimming Pool played as Marie. Together with her husband for 25 years, Jean, they went for vacation. Being married in such a long time with the same person is surely brought some effects in how they treat each other. No, they don?t calling each other names or fighting a lot. They still trying to treat each other respectfully. But we could tell that there is something missing in their marriage but don?t expect to find out what is that. There isn?t really closure to anything in this movie, unless once you love someone for so long, it?s just hard to move on.

The real story begin when Jean said he?s gonna went for swim while Marie laying napping on the sand. When she woke up she couldn?t find her husband. Jean seemed just disappear like that into the ocean.

Marie has to go back to Paris alone. She then starts to live her life refusing the reality that Jean is dead. She goes to gym, teaches at her class and went home to Jean. Part of her know that he has gone, but her denial seemed more bigger than her common sense.

When she talked with her friends, she often mention Jean as he still alive. He buys him present and having conversation with him when she got home. When her friend setting her up with a guy, she considers it as her first affair during her marriage.

Will she stop her denial if Jean?s body ever discovered? I can?t spoil it because this is what actually the climate of the movie.

There are many scene that I think so powerful in this movie. Her conversation and activities with ?imaginary? Jean, the meeting with his mother and lastly the ending of the movie. How much I want to mention about it because that?s what actually the best and probably the most powerful ending ever.

Rampling is hold the key to this wonderful movie. I don?t think that any other actress (except probbaly for Meryl Streep) can really pull it out. The movie isn?t talk active in fact it run pretty slow so it definitely need a great character actress to make this movie work. Rampling doing fantastic work. Her performance is one of the best I?ve ever seen in life. I always believe that good actors not the one who can easily cry, remembering the long lines but the one who can show the real feelings without even talking at all, and Rampling has it.

I know the description even my thoughts about this movie probably sound too general, but if you really love drama with with less Hollywood on-screen typical couple, then you should definitely give this movie a chance. In fact, I BEG you to watch this movie and tell me if I am really crazy for really loving it.