Under the Sand Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Under the Sand Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see exploration of grief.

Under the Sand is a thought-provoking drama and a first-rate work of art. Produced by Olivier Delbosc (Enter the Void) and Marc Missonnier (Swimming Pool), Under the Sand is a must-see. Charlotte Rampling stars.

Marie Drillon (Charlotte Rampling) and Jean Drillon (Bruno Cremer) have spent many years together as a married couple. During vacation, Marie and Jean often find themselves taking a stroll down the beach. Yet when Marie takes a short nap while her husband goes out to swim, she wakes up only to discover Jean has died – washed up on shore.

Wondering how her beloved husband died and why, Marie contemplates their relationship as well as the startling and abrupt end to their marriage. Marie explores her grief and loss of a loved one. Can Marie come to terms with her loss?

Charlotte Rampling is a wonderful actress. One of the most gifted actresses of her generation, Rampling provides Under the Sand with a first-rate performance. The role was a complex exploration of grief. Rampling explores what it means to feel grief – the loss of a loved one – and the spectrum of emotions in creates. The performance is one of her best.

A moving performance by Charlotte Rampling.

The cinematography by Antoine Heberle (Paradise Now, A Woman's Life) and Jeanne Lapoirie (Benedetta, Into the Forest) is haunting. The visuals help tell the story. Under the Sand has a outstanding cinematic style and the cinematography shines with its character-focused vision.

The music score composed by Philippe Rombi (Welcome to the Sticks, Joyeux Noel) is subtle but effective. The score helped enhance the somber mood of the filmmaking. A quiet and thoughtful original score.

The costumes by Pascaline Chavanne (In the House, 8 Women) are natural and true to the characters. There is nothing flashy about the costumes in Under the Sand. The effort aims for minimalism and authenticity. The results are splendid.

Directed by Francois Ozon (8 Women, Swimming Pool), the script was co-written by the filmmaker alongside co-screenwriters Emmanuele Bernheim (Five Times Two), Marina de Van (In My Skin), and Marcia Romano (Peaceful). Under the Sand is one of Ozon's best works. A gifted auteur, Ozon delivers something compelling and thoughtful. The filmmaking is tender and moving.

Under the Sand Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Under the Sand is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release has somewhat muted colors and the presentation looks a bit dated. The master is an older one and the film didn't receive a new restoration. Despite not being from a new 2K or 4K scan, Under the Sand has an impressive encode.

Under the Sand Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in French DTS-HD Master Audio stereo. The audio quality sounds crisp, clear, and engaging. The audio track has decent dynamics. Dialogue was well reproduced for the release. The music score is also well reproduced and adds a nice element of ambiance to the film.

English subtitles are provided.

Under the Sand Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Director Francois Ozon and co-writer Emmanuele Bernheim (with optional English subtitles provided)

Audio Commentary by Film Critic Kat Ellinger

Interview with star Charlotte Rampling (SD, 8:48)

Trailers:

Ponette (SD, 2:30)

Tous les matins du monde (SD, 2:01)

Under the Sand (SD, 1:57)

Under the Sand Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Under the Sand is one of the best films of director Francois Ozon (8 Women, Swimming Pool). The filmmaking is genuine and complex. Charlotte Rampling delivers one of her best performances: a tender and moving portrait of someone struggling with grief. For anyone who has ever lost a loved one, the performance is deeply moving. The experience of grief is a struggle that takes years – even longer – to overcome. Rampling understands how big a toll grief can have on someone's life. A must-see role. Highly recommended.