Woman in the Dunes (1964)
This was quite an unique film experience to say the least. The whole thing has a Sisyphus-ian atmosphere and the flow of sand everywhere becomes mesmerizing. Sand makes for an interesting structural metaphor for the passing of time, the feeling of entrapment and lack of stability. The sand confines them totally like a wall, but the sand is also fragile and literally breaks apart between their fingers. It never holds shape. It mirrors the film itself as well, as nothing becomes fully tangible. Leaves basically everything open.
Criterion Challenge 2026 - 27. 1960s
Rating: 3.5