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-   -   6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=38752)

seanc 02-06-15 11:28 PM

6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Nominated By: Swan

Woman in the Dunes (Hiroshi Teshigahara, 1964)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...pstdksafch.jpg

seanc 02-06-15 11:38 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
This is one of the ones I watched this week. I have already talked to Swan about it just a bit. I really think people are going to love this. It is quite beautiful to look at. The theme is fairly simple, and maybe even a little too on the nose, however the way you unpack this theme has infinite possibilities. It seems obvious to me that there is probably a lot of allegory about the government going on here, someone can tell me if I am wrong. I will wait till some other people start talking about the themes and jump in but you could talk about government, gender politics, class systems, or sand castle building. There is just a lot to unpack here.

All that being said, I did not completely fall for this film. It is definitely cold, and that sometimes is a tough sell for me. Really glad I saw this though. Good nomination Swan.

Sexy Celebrity 02-06-15 11:41 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Shouldn't this have been posted in the Hall of Fame thread?

Daniel M 02-06-15 11:55 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
I'm going to watch this for the 60s countdown, so I'll join in the discussion with you guys soon.

Miss Vicky 02-07-15 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by Sexy Celebrity (Post 1252088)
Shouldn't this have been posted in the Hall of Fame thread?
Each nominated film is getting its own thread in order to keep the discussion more organized.

Sane 02-07-15 12:12 AM

Woman in the Dunes is an excellent film. I watched it along with The Face of Another and Pitfall about a year ago. Pitfall didn't really grab me but with the other two Teshigahara really got under my skin. Hard to say why exactly because I found them both hard to get into but by the time they had ended I felt like I had watched something special.

It's a great nomination and it will be interesting to see how much other people like it.

cricket 02-08-15 10:20 AM

The only reason I wasn't psyched to see this nominated is because I just watched it in December. Because of that, it will be one of the last movies I watch for this Hall of Fame. Besides all that, because of the film's quality and the upcoming 60's list, I think it's a fantastic nomination.

neiba 02-08-15 10:29 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
I watched this last December too, so it'll be the last one I watch for the 6th HoF! I felt that there was something really special about it but I didn't exactly know what, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I think I can with one more watch! It's a very cold movie with a very profound message that's not easy to grasp... Great nomination! :)

christine 02-08-15 04:07 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Seen this but def worth a rewatch. Excellent film

gbgoodies 02-13-15 03:05 PM

This is what I posted about Woman in the Dunes in my logbook thread. (I removed the SPOILER tags for this thread.)

http://www.movieforums.com/community...31#post1255331

I had never heard of it before watching it, but after reading the synopsis on IMDB, I was pretty sure that it wasn't my type of movie, and unfortunately, I was right.

Overall, I found this movie to be kind of boring. The characters weren't likable at all, so I had no reason to care if he was able to get away or not. Most of the movie was so dark that it was hard to see what was actually happening. The scene when he escaped and fell in quicksand was so dark that they may as well have turned off the camera.

And I hated the ending because it made no sense. I get the irony that he stayed, after being held captive for 7 years, and finally having a chance to escape. If he had stayed because he fell in love with girl, maybe it would make sense, but he stayed for the stupid water invention? That made no sense to me.

After watching the movie, I read a little bit about it on IMDB to see if maybe I missed to point of the movie, and maybe something might change my opinion of this movie, but it didn't help. I just don't get what most people see in this movie. :shrug:


seanc 02-13-15 03:28 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Goodies I think you are taking the plot too literal. It is all about oppression and what that does to the psyche. Its not that he wanted to stay because of the invention, its that he has become a product of the opression he is under. To the point that he relies on it or even needs it. Its an allegory that could have hundreds of interpretations but if I had to guess, I would say it is probably a heavy refelection of the government at that time.

gbgoodies 02-13-15 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by seanc (Post 1255337)
Goodies I think you are taking the plot too literal. It is all about oppression and what that does to the psyche. Its not that he wanted to stay because of the invention, its that he has become a product of the oppression he is under. To the point that he relies on it or even needs it. Its an allegory that could have hundreds of interpretations but if I had to guess, I would say it is probably a heavy reflection of the government at that time.

Regardless of why he stayed, it doesn't make sense that he stayed at all. The whole movie shows him trying to escape, and then he finally has the chance to get away, and he stays anyway. If he was going to stay after all that time, at least it should have been for the girl. If he had fallen in love with her and that was why he didn't want to leave, it would have been a better reason to stay. I still wouldn't have liked the movie, but at least that ending would have made sense.

Some people on the IMDB board compared it to a Twilight Zone ending, but if that's the case, then it just felt like the worst Twilight Zone ending ever. :shrug:

Sane 02-13-15 04:27 PM

Like Sean said you maybe need to try to avoid taking movies so literally - rather than just looking at what "happens" you need to interpret what they are really "about". In your own thread you've not liked three of the greatest movies ever made and it seems to be for the same reason - to get the most out of less "mainstream" movies stop focussing on the plot and think about what it means and how the themes may apply to you or things around you or the world.

Some simple quotes from Wikipedia - "Woman in the Dunes is a modern version of the myth of Sisyphus, the man condemned by the gods to spend eternity rolling a boulder to the top of a hill, only to see it roll back down", "a spare and haunting allegory for human existence", "to Max Tessier, the main theme of the film is the desire to escape from society".

In a movie like this specific elements of the story are less or even completely un-important.

gbgoodies 02-13-15 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sane (Post 1255352)
Like Sean said you maybe need to try to avoid taking movies so literally - rather than just looking at what "happens" you need to interpret what they are really "about". In your own thread you've not liked three of the greatest movies ever made and it seems to be for the same reason - to get the most out of less "mainstream" movies stop focusing on the plot and think about what it means and how the themes may apply to you or things around you or the world.

Some simple quotes from Wikipedia - "Woman in the Dunes is a modern version of the myth of Sisyphus, the man condemned by the gods to spend eternity rolling a boulder to the top of a hill, only to see it roll back down", "a spare and haunting allegory for human existence", "to Max Tessier, the main theme of the film is the desire to escape from society".

In a movie like this specific elements of the story are less or even completely un-important.

That's just not how my mind works. I'm not a movie expert, or someone who's in the movie industry. I just watch movies to relax and be entertained. I don't mind if a movie makes you think. I like movies that I think about long after the movie is over. But I don't watch movies to study them and try to figure out what the movie is supposed to "really" be about. That was great when I was in school and we would watch a movie specifically to find out what was underneath the surface, but as I've gotten older, I prefer more straight-forward movies so I can just sit back and enjoy them.

I know that's not the norm here, and most people like those types of movies. I have a lot of respect for people who like those types of movies, but they're just not for me. I'm more of a mainstream movie type of person. That's why there are so many different kinds of movies.

But that's one of the reasons that I like to join these movie tournaments like the HoFs. I know that there will be some movies nominated that aren't my type of movies, but I like to give them a chance, even if they're not in my comfort zone. I knew that there would be several foreign films nominated for the HoF, and I could have easily watched the movies without actually joining the tournament, but then it would be too easy for me to just ignore those movies, and only watch the ones that sound like I'd like them. By joining the HoF, I get to watch a lot of movies that I normally would never choose to watch on my own, and sometimes I find some movies that I like. Surprisingly, there have even been a few foreign films in previous movie tournaments that I liked, so there's hope for the ones that were nominated in this tournament too.

Sane 02-13-15 05:12 PM

That's fair enough - there's no requirement for anyone to like any type of movie. People are just explaining how to get the most out of these types of movies and with a few exceptions if you focus on the plot you will always be disappointed.

I think you'll like Late Spring much better though - get on to watching that one ;)

gbgoodies 02-13-15 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Sane (Post 1255371)
That's fair enough - there's no requirement for anyone to like any type of movie. People are just explaining how to get the most out of these types of movies and with a few exceptions if you focus on the plot you will always be disappointed.

I think you'll like Late Spring much better though - get on to watching that one ;)

It's on my watchlist. :)

sumantra roy 02-14-15 02:33 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
The film is allegorical and multiple interpretations are possible. The sand has taken everything from that woman, still she never thinks of going away from there...The man does, because he is not accustomed to living in such conditions...but after spending several years, he is also not willing to escape from there anymore...he chooses to stay there out of his free will...may be, we all do...

Swan 02-14-15 02:43 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Question. Has anyone read any Kobo Abe books? He seems like my kind of author. Just bought The Box Man.

Miss Vicky 02-14-15 10:14 PM

Just finished this.

I'm not sure I understood what exactly the director was going for - though I definitely see the Sisyphus comparison. That said, even on a superficial level I found this movie really fascinating. I really felt for the man as he struggled against his captivity and struggled to find a way to cope with what the woman and the villagers had done to him.

I also really liked the ending. I didn't see it as him staying for "that stupid water thing" at all, but rather a case of him finding a sense of purpose in his life. Sure he was educated and had a career as a teacher, but it seemed apparent to me that he still felt unfulfilled in his city life. He said himself that he wanted something tangible that he could count as his accomplishment and surely creating a pump that supplies potable water in such a harsh climate fulfilled this desire far more effectively than just having his name in a field guide would have.

Nice choice, Swan. Pretty much a sure thing for my 60s ballot. :up:

+

Swan 02-14-15 10:15 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
AAAAAAAAAAH!

Vicky, I am so glad you liked it.

Swan 02-14-15 10:17 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
There was an audible sigh of relief when I saw your post. :D

Miss Vicky 02-14-15 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Swan (Post 1255957)
There was an audible sigh of relief when I saw your post. :D
What, did you expect me to hate it?

Our tastes in film are far more similar than our tastes in music. :laugh:

Swan 02-14-15 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky (Post 1255959)
What, did you expect me to hate it?

Our tastes in film are far more similar than our tastes in music. :laugh:
Nah, I just wasn't sure.

:up:

Guaporense 02-16-15 02:20 AM

This film was in Tarkovsky's top 10. And in Kinema Junpo's readers poll 2009 top 10 as well. Impressive, really impressive. So when I watched it I felt underwhelmed. Still a good movie though. Just not the awe inspiring masterpiece I was expecting. :)

rauldc14 02-24-15 10:50 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Woman in the Dunes

Firstly, the movie was very clear and crisp in my opinion, at least on the criterion version. Second, the setting of the film was great. I always like it when films are centered in an atmosphere that either makes you feel dark, eerie, mysterious, or helpless, and it is many of those in a way. I really liked the eerie music as well and it added a great touch to the film. I would have liked to have gotten a little more character development, especially from the woman. I liked the overall concept of the film but like GBG something fell apart for me in the end. Probably because I took it too literal in the end as well, but that's just how it goes I guess. A good film, but not a great one for me. But I liked it.

Swan 02-24-15 11:21 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Damn, raul, I'm sorry you hated the film.

;)

Camo 02-24-15 11:55 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Never heard of this before. I'll add it to my 60s watchlist.

Guaporense 02-25-15 12:46 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
I don't think he hated it, just that he didn't enjoy it greatly. I would also like that Raul could be this considerate with respect to the movies I nominated.

Swan 02-25-15 12:47 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Was an inside joke, kinda.

Camo 02-25-15 12:54 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
It wasn't an inside joke, or if it was it was obvious to everyone else that you realized he didn't hate it anyway.

wintertriangles 02-25-15 01:11 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
I got it

Swan 02-25-15 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by Camo (Post 1261201)
It wasn't an inside joke, or if it was it was obvious to everyone else that you realized he didn't hate it anyway.
Why do I feel like you're criticizing me? :p

Anyway, I'm glad more people read my Movie a Day thread than I realized. :D

Gatsby 02-25-15 01:29 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Swan ya think I'm gonna like this one?

Swan 02-25-15 01:32 AM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
I certainly hope so.

Camo 02-25-15 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by Swan (Post 1261206)
Why do I feel like you're criticizing me? :p

Anyway, I'm glad more people read my Movie a Day thread than I realized. :D
I wasn't criticizing you, sorry :) . I was pointing out to Guap, that you knew Raul didn't actually hate it.

Thursday Next 03-05-15 01:38 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
If I'm honest, I wasn't expecting to like this. I try to approach all the films with an open mind, but it's hard not to have some preconceptions, and I thought this might be dull. However, I found it quite fascinating. Not immediately, it took a while for it to warm up, or for me to warm up to it, but it got to the point where I was glued to the screen, especially when he made the escape attempt which ended in quicksand. It's a weird film, part horror, part thriller, part drama, part allegory, but it's not so weird or obscure that it's difficult to watch.

I do think it was too long, though. I think the version I watched was the director's cut which was just short of 2 1/2 hours. I don't know what differences there are between the shorter version and the director's cut, and if anybody knows, I'd be interested.

One thing I really liked was the music, it was really eerie and complemented the film well.

As regards the ending - I'm not so sure he did stay for the water pump thing. That's certainly what he said, but that isn't necessarily reliable. Perhaps he stayed for the woman, and the possible baby. Perhaps he felt that in her absence he should continue her work. Perhaps he had become so used to the captivity that he could become completely focused on a goal within the world of that captivity rather than having his goal be to escape.

Overall, I thought it was a really interesting film and I'm glad I watched it.

cricket 04-10-15 09:39 AM

I watched this last night for the second time. I first watched it about 5 months ago and thought it was pretty great. To my surprise, I thought it was even better this time. My only beef the first time was that I thought it was too long, and could've perhaps used some trimming. Both times, I've watched the director's cut, which is 23 minutes longer than the other version. After watching it this time, I didn't think it dragged at all, and I really don't know anything that could've been cut out.

What I love about the movie most is the atmosphere and cinematography. I really feel when I watch this, that I'm being taken to a whole different side of the world, like I'm actually there. This movie also has an awesome musical score, and the music combined with the look, gives me a sort of horror movie feel. It doesn't hurt that this awesome, unique story is quite terrifying. With only two main characters, it's very important that their acting is superb, and I think that is the case. As far as the ending goes with the decision the guy makes, I'm not really sure as to why, but I think it's effective.

With it's combination of quality, relative obscurity, and it's tie-in to the 60's list, I thought it was the best nomination, and I think it's a fantastic movie.

Gatsby 04-30-15 08:54 PM

Woman in the Dunes

I want to say that even though I give two films a higher rating than this one Woman in the Dunes is the most richest film in the entire HoF to me so far, in a cinematic way.

I've always been a fan of Japanese cinema, because as I wrote in the specific Sonatine and Late Spring threads, the movies don't spoon-feed the audience the main idea and philosophy behind everything. I like a movie I need a few hours to think about.

The pit, where most of the story takes place, I thought of it as an allegory for society. Even if we're surrounded by technology and civilization the basic instincts and sins will be the same. And no matter how hard we try to build are lives, most of the time it all crumbles down...

Something I would like to comment about is the direction by Teshigahara. Simply, it's brilliant. His ability to create entertaining and dramatic situations in a limited space was amazing, and I've never seen anyone use sand in a film so well.

About the ending, honestly I don't clearly have my own opinion yet. But I do think it would have been wrong if the man escaped.



(I want to add a + to my rating but there's some small parts I don't understand- I think I need a rewatch soon. Great nomination Swan.)

Zotis 04-30-15 09:10 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
Oh, I really want to watch this one! I kind of forgot about it...

Friendly Mushroom! 05-25-15 09:21 PM

Well I loved this movie.

Like every other film nominated for the 6th HoF, I'll write something about it after I finish watching them all. I still have trouble explaining why I like or don't like a film for some reason. I should get better at it soon.

Guaporense 05-26-15 08:38 PM

Re: 6th HOF-Woman In The Dunes
 
My write ups got much better now than 3 years ago when I started reviewing movies on the IMBD


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