In this 1964 Japanese film, a schoolteacher and amateur entomologist finds himself trapped in a remote desert village, where he is forced to assist a woman in her endless task of shoveling sand to prevent her home from being buried. Directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, the film explores themes of existentialism and human perseverance against the backdrop of an unforgiving landscape. The movie stars Eiji Okada and Kyoko Kishida, whose performances bring depth to this haunting narrative. Notably, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards and won the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. For those interested, it can be viewed for free on 123Movies / Movies123.