A TOHO FILM
WOMAN IN THE DUNES
This is terrible.
Is this an inspection?
Inspection?
Not really.
Were you expecting one?
You can stay as long as it's not an inspection.
I'm collecting insects.
Huh?
Bugs. I collect bugs.
I specialize in these sand bugs.
So you're not from the prefectural office?
Prefectural office?
Don't be absurd. I'm a schoolteacher.
A teacher?
I see.
The certificates we use to make certain of one another:
contracts, licenses, ID cards, permits,
deeds, certifications, registrations, carry permits,
union cards, testimonials, bills, IOUs,
temporary permits, letters of consent, income statements,
certificates of custody, even proof of pedigree.
Is that all of them?
Have I forgotten any?
Men and women
are slaves to their fear of being cheated.
In turn they dream up new certificates to prove their innocence.
No one can say where it will end.
They seem endless.
You criticized me for arguing too much.
But the facts speak for themselves.
Teacher man!
What'll you do now?
Do? I'll be back tomorrow.
But the last bus has left.
You're right.
There must be some place to stay.
In this village?
If not here, then maybe near the highway?
You gonna walk?
I'm in no hurry.
No need to go so far.
If you want, I can ask around for you.
You can see it's a poor village, but if you don't mind -
You'd do that?
I'm very grateful.
I won't be rushed in the morning, and I'd love to stay in a real home.
Thank you.
Careful, there are deep pits on both sides.
Hey, you old hag!
Whatchya doin'? You've got a guest!
The ladder's beside the bales.
You sure it's okay?
Don't worry. It's very informal here.
In that case...
A rope ladder?
That's what we use out here in the boonies.
This is quite an adventure.
Don't lean away from the rope.
Hold on tight.
Don't look up. You'll get sand in your face.
This way, please.
Please.
Thanks for your hospitality.
Dinner will be ready soon.
Great.
Could I take a bath first?
Yes, but -
Never mind then.
Please wait until the day after tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow?
I'm afraid not.
I only have three days off.
I beg your pardon.
You only have one lamp?
It's all right. I'll be finished soon.
It's a pain not having electricity, huh?
Help yourself.
Thanks.
Clams and bream - looks good.
Nothing beats local delicacies.
What's that for? - The sand seeps in.
Why?
Is the roof damaged?
No, it's the same with newly thatched roofs.
How can that be?
Bugs, even worse than woodborers.
Woodborers?
Yes. They make holes in the wood.
You must mean termites.
No. They're this big, with hard shells.
Could it be a saw beetle?
Saw beetle?
The reddish one with long antennae.
No, these are bronze-colored, like a grain of rice.
Then I guess it must be a woodborer.
If you're not careful, even a beam this big will get spongy and rot.
From the woodborers?
No, the sand.
How so?
I guess it draws moisture.
Nonsense.
Sand is naturally dry.
But it really makes things rot.
You must be kidding! Use your common sense.
A desert is dry because it's all sand.
Have you ever heard of a damp desert?
Sorry, but could I have some tea?
But it does rot.
They say if you leave sand on clogs, they'll rot in two weeks.
That's ridiculous.
The wood rots, and so does the sand.
We found soil in the ceiling of a buried house
rich enough to grow cucumbers in.
Okay, whatever you say.
- More? - No, thanks.
Thank you. That was delicious.
This is terrible!
When it's windy,
two feet of sand can pile up in one night.
See? Even the futon is damp.
Where is everyone?
Your family.
I live alone.
Last year a storm swallowed up my husband and daughter.
Swallowed up?
The sand roared down like a waterfall.
He went out to save the chicken coop.
And got buried?
It was a horrible gale.
That's awful.
That's really awful.
It's the sand.
Are you here for research?
Yes.
That reminds me:
Are there any insects like this around here?
It's called a tiger beetle.
Here it is.
I want to find others like that one.
This species has many variants.
If I find a new variant, I'll get my name in a field guide.
All I'm good for is catching bugs by the tail.
Hey, we brought the helper's tools!
So there's someone else here with you after all.
That's a good one.
But he just said something about a helper.
He meant you.
Me? Why?
Don't worry about it.
There must be some misunderstanding.
Do you still need the lamp?
Yes, if you don't mind.
That's all right. I'm used to the work.
Man, this is foul.
No, don't.
- Want help? - No, not on the first day.
The first day? That again?
I'm only staying the night.
You always shovel at night?
Yes, the sand's moist. Makes it easier.
Basket's ready!
Thanks!
Here it comes.
Let me help.
Clear!
Can't be easy for them either.
This village has real local spirit.
What kind of spirit?
Love of our birthplace.
I see. A good thing, indeed!
- Just how long do you work? - Until morning.
Morning?
The sand won't wait.
Clear!
What a wreck!
Ouch!
That's strange. The ladder's gone.
Ma'am.
Could you wake up, please?
Sorry, but could you get the ladder?
It's not there.
I'd like to be on my way.
I only have three days off. I can't dawdle.
Wait a minute.
That was a rope ladder!
It can only be lowered from above.
Shit! It was a trap!
I'm sorry.
Sorry? What do you mean?
I asked what you meant.
I'm sorry.
That's not enough!
I've got a job. I can't waste time.
But you do understand, don't you?
Understand? What's there to understand?
But you know...
this life's really too hard for a woman alone.
What's that got to do with me?
The north winds will come soon. There may be sandstorms too.
You're holding me captive?
I'm terribly sorry.
Is this a joke? I'm not some homeless bum.
I'm a respected teacher. I'm registered with the city.
You'll be in trouble when I'm reported missing.
Illegal confinement is a serious offense.
If I fall behind,
my house will be buried.
Fine, let it be!
You can't drag me into this!
Then the house next door would be next.
They can all get buried, for all I care!
And what about you?
Why do you cling to this place?
You must be mad!
Look.
You don't owe those villagers a damn thing.
I can't share your sense of self-sacrifice.
Let them deal with the sand scientifically, with tree fences or something.
They calculated that it's much cheaper this way.
Fine, whatever you say! Just call the man in charge!
I'll tell him how stupid all this is!
What're you waiting for?
There must be some way to call them.
Bang on the oil can or something!
Why don't you say anything?
It's not impossible.
I'm going with the natural slope of the sand.
Son of a bitch!
What's that sound
A little bell
Splish, splash
What's that sound
A demon's voice
Splish, splash
What's that sound
Mister, are you awake?
How do you feel?
Could be worse.
Let me wipe your back.
Stop! It hurts!
It hurts?
Yes.
Shall I massage you?
Are you serious? I may have broken something.
If you're so concerned, call a doctor.
Isn't my underwear dry yet?
You shouldn't wear anything in bed.
Why not?
You'll get rashes from the sand.
Rashes?
The sand draws moisture.
Keep quiet! Don't resist!
You'll have to endure it a while.
Now we can both say we've been deceived.
You reap what you sow.
Men aren't dogs.
You can't put them on a leash.
Hey, what's going on?
Hurry up down there!
We're waiting!
Pull me up! I'm not letting go!
She's tied up inside! If you want to help her, pull me up!
No.
They haven't won yet.
The battle's just begun.
They're going to be in big trouble.
There's nothing to fear.
I've got the upper hand.
This is actually a good experience.
Maybe I'll write about it when I get back.
It's shochu.
How thoughtful, giving me booze to celebrate in advance.
A coup d'etat, huh?
People can't sit still for a minute.
Want a cigarette?
No.
Smoking dries my throat.
- Water then? - I'm fine for now.
Feel free to ask.
I have nothing personal against you.
Does it hurt?
We must be careful.
The rations only come once a week.
Rations?
Yes.
Only to households with a man.
The village council pays for them.
Tell me something.
Has this happened to men before me?
We're so short of people.
Who else was abducted?
Let's see.
Last fall, a postcard salesman.
A postcard salesman?
He worked for a company that made travel postcards.
Any others?
This year...
there was a student carrying out a survey.
Three houses over. He's still there.
They pulled up the ladder on him too, huh?
Young people don't want to stay in the village.
The pay's better in the cities.
Movie theaters and restaurants are open year-round, right?
This is lunacy!
What is it? Does it hurt?
Would you please scratch behind my right ear?
Like this?
I'm sorry,
but could I have some water?
Water, please! I'm begging you!
This is all that's left. When's the next ration?
That's enough!
Not so much!
Shut up! This is your own doing!
Shall I untie you?
But get this straight: It's not out of sympathy.
I've just had enough of your pitiful face.
There's one condition:
no shoveling unless I say so.
You promise me that?
Yes, I promise!
I'll promise anything!
If I suffer, you suffer.
Give that some serious thought.
Where are you going?
Run for it!
Can't we do something?
It's because we haven't shoveled any sand for two nights.
Water! I'm talking about water!
Aren't you thirsty?
I was nice enough to untie you. You could cooperate a little.
Well, you see,
if we just started working again -
Give me a break!
Who's got the right to force me into such a rotten deal?
You have to use the right man for the right job.
I'm a teacher, and something of a scholar.
They could at least put my abilities to better use.
We could, for example...
think of some way to exploit the lure of the dunes.
My fascination with the sand is what brought me here, after all.
I'm serious.
That postcard salesman probably came for the same reason.
Advertise the area. Develop it into a tourist resort.
Make the sand work for you, not against you.
But a resort needs a hot spring.
Well, that was just one idea.
Maybe there are special crops that grow in the sand.
Yes, the Youth League grows a few things,
like peanuts and tulips.
They said the tulip bulbs were so big
that they showed them at an agricultural fair in Tokyo.
If you saw them -
That's enough!
Even a monkey could be trained to do this work.
A monkey?
It'll make you sick.
My breath feels like it's on fire.
This is futile.
If it wanted to...
the sand could swallow up cities, even entire countries.
Did you know that?
A Roman town called Sabrata,
and that one in The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam,
both completely buried under particles an eighth of a millimeter wide.
You can't fight it!
It's hopeless!
What are you doing?
No!
I'm gonna make a ladder!
You can't do that!
Shall I... brush off the sand?
But...
aren't all the city girls prettier than me?
Nonsense!
Give me the cloth.
Damn it!
My blood's gonna rot!
What a dirty move!
What should I do?
Do something!
My blood's gonna rot!
You see,
if we just started working again -
Fine!
I give in!
You win!