Log in
The Weight of Sand

The Weight of Sand

· Drama, Thriller

The Weight of Sand tells the story of Edith and Luca, two young adults who one day decide to embark on a great adventure that takes them from Spain to Togo. The journey takes a dark turn when they are kidnapped by jihadist forces and taken into the desert of Mali, where they are held captive for 450 days before attempting a highly risky, near-suicidal escape. The Weight of Sand is a suspenseful drama in which conflict brings forward profound questions about the meaning of life and our human quest: At what point do we choose to die with dignity rather than survive in misery? What is love? What is our relationship with silence and infinity in the 21st century? This epic and visually spectacular feature film is based on a true story.

Directed by Kim Nguyen · Written by Kim Nguyen

Your Rating

Cast

Make it a double feature

The Weight of Sand

The Marsh

Both from Kim Nguyen.

More from Kim NguyenSee all →

The MarshThe Marsh · 2002
The Marsh
★ 7.02002
MovieFantasyDrama
Two social outcasts in 19th century Eastern Europe, Alexandre and Ulysse, become friends and settle down to live alone on the edge of a marsh that is reputedly haunted by demons, monsters and goblins. These two men have been outcasts all their lives. Alexandre was raised in a nomad family that traveled from town to town, being rejected by the people of his homeland. Due to his physical abnormalities, Ulysse has always been pushed aside ever since his childhood. When a strange murder is committed in a nearby village, the peasants turn their suspicions on Alexandre and Ulysse, because they are different. In the eyes of the villagers, they are demons that must be hunted, burned and killed.
War WitchWar Witch · 2012
War Witch
★ 6.62012
MovieDramaWar
Somewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, Komona a 14-year-old girl tells her unborn child growing inside her the story of her life since she has been at war. Everything started when she was abducted by the rebel army at the age of 12.
The Measure of a ManThe Measure of a Man · 2015
The Measure of a Man
★ 6.62015
MovieDrama
At the age of 51 and after 20 months on unemployment, Thierry starts a new job that soon brings him face to face with a moral dilemma. How much is he willing to accept to keep his job?
Two Lovers and a BearTwo Lovers and a Bear · 2016
Two Lovers and a Bear
★ 6.52016
MovieDramaRomance
Set in a small town near the North Pole where roads lead to nowhere, the story follows Roman and Lucy, two burning souls who come together to make a leap for life and inner peace.
Eye on JulietEye on Juliet · 2018
Eye on Juliet
★ 6.52018
MovieDrama
The story of an unlikely encounter between Gordon, a hexapod operator, and Ayusha, a young woman from the Middle East. Gordon, guardian of a pipeline in this desert region, becomes fascinated by Ayusha, while piloting his robotic spider from the other side of the world, in America. Ayusha is promised to an older man she doesn't love. Despite the distance, their mutual fear and their imperfect interaction, he will do everything in his power to help her escape her fate.
The Hummingbird ProjectThe Hummingbird Project · 2019
The Hummingbird Project
★ 6.22019
MovieThrillerDrama
A pair of high-frequency traders go up against their old boss in an effort to make millions in a fiber-optic cable deal.
TruffleTruffle · 2008
Truffle
★ 6.02008
MovieComedyScience Fiction
Chaos ensues after global warming transforms a working-class Montreal neighborhood into a world Mecca for truffles.
BoomerBoomer · 2002
Boomer
★ 6.02002
MovieComedy
An undisputed fan of tuning, Philippe is extremely involved in his passion, at the expense of his family. In fact, he spends most of his time improving his machine, a Punto Tuning Cup Diablo, and wants to be recognized in this industry. One day, during a competition, he finds himself facing a major challenger, Diego, his sworn enemy.
The Empire of ScentsThe Empire of Scents · 2014
The Empire of Scents
★ 6.02014
MovieDocumentary
An exploration of our sense of smell and how it impacts our lives.
Forever YoungForever Young · 2022
Forever Young
★ 5.72022
MovieMusicComedy
Alex, whose singing career can't manage to succeed, accepts a strange job : to make a pensionner choir sing nursery rhymes. She finds out a bunch of out of control old people who dream of singing rock and roll music ! Her mission will be more complicated than expected...
City of ShadowsCity of Shadows · 2010
City of Shadows
★ 5.52010
MovieDramaHistory
A doctor broken by 8 years of war in North Africa tries to come back home. On his way, he is faced with a bigger challenge: save a city from the plague... and from madness.
A Hundred Years of HappinessA Hundred Years of Happiness · 2020
A Hundred Years of Happiness
★ 2.52020
MovieDocumentary
A Hundred Years of Happiness; an observational documentary, is a personal portraiture of a Vietnamese farming family and their daughter Tram. While her father instils in her the importance of familial obligation to care for one’s ageing parents, her mother desires a secure future devoid of economic hardship. Determined to fulfil both her parent’s wishes, Tram pursues a new life in South Korea as a migrant bride, but her fast-tracked journey leaves little time for reflection.
Happiness BoundHappiness Bound · 2007
Happiness Bound
★ 2.02007
MovieDocumentary
Poetry and cinema merge as 11 filmmakers bring to life 21 poems by Québécois poets.
Une photo à Saigon : coups de feu sur deux viesUne photo à Saigon : coups de feu sur deux vies · 2026
Une photo à Saigon : coups de feu sur deux vies
2026
MovieDocumentary
Which is more final, the gun or the camera? Armed with a powerful visual style, Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Kim Nguyen reveals the elusive connection between two families and one iconic photo: Saigon Execution. Part history, part mystery, Saigon Story confronts the family secrets left in the wake of the Vietnam War, exposing the resilience of survivors and the blurred legacy of wartime memory.
Ophelia: Love & Privacy_SettingsOphelia: Love & Privacy_Settings · 2013
Ophelia: Love & Privacy_Settings
2013
MovieAnimation
Hubert, the lovely wannabe-casanova protagonist of this story has a bubble floating over his head (like in comics), and in this bubble all his thoughts are visible. So everybody can read his thoughts, and since he mostly thinks about (naked) ladies, this gets him into big trouble… How exposed and public can your thoughts become before it gets embarrassing? Which dirty thoughts could get you into trouble? That's the problem of our protagonist Hubert. Anyone can clearly read his thoughts in a speech balloon floating above his head. In our film we accompany him on his challenging search for a girlfriend. A comedy about 'The End of Privacy'.
Denis MarleauDenis Marleau · 2012
Denis Marleau
2012
Movie
This tribute to Denis Marleau takes a simple and forthright approach to one of the major themes of his work: the relationship between material reality and consciousness, or more specifically, Freud’s concept of the Uncanny, which often emerges when dissonance between material reality and consciousness rises to the surface. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in co-operation with the National Arts Centre and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation on the occasion of the 2012 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.

More Like This

The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson StoryThe Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story · 2023
The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story
★ 7.12023
MovieThrillerDrama
Based on a true story. 15-year-old Kara Robinson was kidnapped, assaulted and held captive for 18 hours. With her survival instincts kicking in, she plots a daring escape from the serial killer and leads police to his apartment.
Fire in the SkyFire in the Sky · 1993
Fire in the Sky
★ 6.71993
MovieScience FictionMystery
After clearing brush for the government, a group of men return to town claiming their friend was abducted. Despite no apparent motive or evidence of foul play, no-one believes their story and his disappearance is treated as murder.
Animals
NEW
Animals · 2026
Animals
★ 7.02026
MovieThrillerDrama
When the son of an L.A. mayoral candidate is kidnapped, he and his wife have a few hours to come up with the ransom payment. With most of their money spent on his political campaign, they have to get their hands dirty and expose a side of their lives they never intended to see the light of day.
Are You ScaredAre You Scared · 2006
Are You Scared
★ 3.72006
MovieActionHorror
After waking up in an abandoned factory, six kidnapped terns realize they are contestants on a reality show called "Are You Scared?"

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter