Synopsis
Haunting. Erotic. Unforgettable.
An entomologist suffers extreme psychological and sexual torture after being taken captive by the residents of a poor seaside village.
1964 ‘砂の女’ Directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara
An entomologist suffers extreme psychological and sexual torture after being taken captive by the residents of a poor seaside village.
La Femme du sable, 沙之女, Suna no onna, Písečná žena, De Vrouw in 't Zand, A Mulher da Areia, Kvinnan i sanden, Una mujer en la arena, La mujer de arena, La mujer de la arena, Woman of the Dunes, La Femme des dunes, 모래의 여자, La donna di sabbia, A Mulher das Dunas, Γυναίκα στους Αμμόλοφους, Kvinnen i sanden, La Femme des sables, Suna no Onna, 砂之女, Die Frau in den Dünen, Женщина в песках, Kumların Kadını, A homok asszonya, 沙丘之女, Kobieta z wydm, Жінка в пісках, ქალი ქვიშაში, Kvinden i sandet, La Mujer de la Arena, אישה בחולות
93/100
Hasty airport catchup: Marveled while rewatching this at its allegorical versatility, or perhaps slipperiness—it feels like it could represent anything and everything, which I suppose detractors might argue means that it represents nothing. Ultimately doesn't matter much, though, as the film's weirdly parched sensuality knocks me for a loop right from the surface. Life is an inexorable invasion of grit, inspiring a sort of existential Stockholm Syndrome; had Teshigahara chosen to call this The Sand, its kinship with Sjoström's The Wind (a contender for my favorite silent feature; Woman in the Dunes might as well be one too) would be more apparent.
One of the most strikingly composed and meditative fables ever put to film. At once unnervingly surreal and stripped down to the essential, elemental reality of everyday existence. A film interested in both the pursuit of purpose and control within the exchange of labor/resources for food, sleep and sex but also the pure banality and beauty that can be found in the rhythms & routines of our violent, coercive exploitation after a certain amount of time, distance and acceptance. Incredible film. No idea why I didn't watch this sooner.
As someone whose life feels a lot like trying to crawl up a slope of impossibility, this movie just hits different. Acceptance is not contentment. Struggle bars are played out. A billion grains of sand can’t fill my heart; they only rot my blood, crack my tongue, stymie my spirit. Camus was wrong. I imagine Sisyphus anything but happy.
It just doesn’t get any more absorbing, provocative, existential and beautifully shot than this! Woman in the Dunes is only my first Hiroshi Teshigahara film and it absolutely floored me with the excellent performances, claustrophobic atmosphere, introspective look into the human condition and isolation, visual allegories, memorable dialogue and an unnerving musical score which reminded me of Mica Levi’s work in Under the Skin to some degree. There are many impressive shots of sand slithering downward, having a constant menacing aspect to them. After all, our protagonists are forced to live in this pit because of sand and they end up finding purpose in living on those circumstances. You also get a strong sense of fellowship throughout the film, emphasizing traditional Japanese family and community values. Overall, Woman in the Dunes is a remarkable gem and a must-see for every film enthusiast!
A film that is both terrifyingly beautiful and intellectually stimulating. The intricate sand metaphorically represents the burdens and traps we face, and the struggle for survival becomes a metaphor for the relentless challenges of existence. This film will remain an impeccable exploration of the human psychology and the harsh realities of our existence, a complete masterpiece! *chef kiss*
Words to describe Hiroshi Teshigahara's Woman in the Dunes can range from "exotic" to "surreal" or "hypnotic" but they are mere understatements if one is going to describe the experience that is set to come. Though if there was one word that hits me when I think of Woman in the Dunes is not "masterpiece," because such a word isn't going to do justice to the experience that I had when I watch such a brilliant work. The moment when I first watched Woman in the Dunes was an experience that overwhelmed every thought process that was going through my head - but in such a way that I could not pin everything down on the spot what a film…
Woman in the Dunes is a scathing piece on a man's place in modern society, wrapped up in the facade of an intense cat-and-mouse thriller. Despite the fact of the majority of the story revolves a man's self-rescuing, both the title and the poster primarily single out the female character, which is a really admirably intentional move from director Hiroshi Teshigahara.
Earning a surprising best director nomination at the Oscars, Woman in the Dunes proves its directorial excellence at sight and sound as early as the first frame, amplifying an eerily transfixing experience of a male scientist collecting insects in the desert, yet ending up being the collected, by heavy use of close-ups and sensual sound effects. Teshigahara combined elements…
I’ve been haunted by this masterpiece for over fifteen years. In many ways, it is the film that sparked my obsession with cinema.