“Why search the sand for answers? It has told us everything,” whispers Roseline (voiced by Michel Robin), the 173-year old desert nomad narrator of French director Jean-François Laguionie’s hauntingly poetic animated feature of life after the apocalypse, where the few hardy survivors walk on stilts from well to well, scorpions glow like lanterns, and the mysterious Makou drops giant everyday objects – forks, eyeglasses, bathtubs – from the skies. Into this desolate science-fiction landscape, part-DUNE, part-FURY ROAD, emerges the story’s teenage heroine, Gwen (voiced by Lorella Di Cicco), who refuses to stay silent and hide in the shadows – and whose love for teenage boy Nokmoon, kidnapped by the Makou and its followers, will drive her and Roseline on an epic journey across the endless sands, “the still silence of chaos and oblivion.”

A sublime and breathtaking masterpiece of world animation, painted in remarkable gouache images, GWEN… is on par with René Laloux’s FANTASTIC PLANET, Hayao Miyazaki’s NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND and Mamoru Oshii’s ANGEL’S EGG as a visually stunning and truly otherworldly experience, interwoven with surreal and dreamlike moments: a pillow fight in the desert; phantom projections of red UFOs in the night sky; a mystery cult who worship an ancient product catalog and sing gorgeous hymns to fireworks and a watering can made of galvanized steel. Beautifully restored in 4K with the director’s participation for La Traverse Films in France and released for the first time ever in the U.S. by Deaf Crocodile. In French with English subtitles.

For thoughts on Gwen and the Book of Sand, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Gwen and the Book of Sand debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio with a 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR master derived from a 4K restoration with the participation of director Jean-François Laguionie. This is the second animated 4K UHD release from Deaf Crocodile, and this title is every bit as glorious as their Felidae presentation. The textures of the desert expanse are palpable thanks to the naturally filmic presentation. Even with this being classic 2-D animation, the screen has a wonderful amount of depth. The unique character designs are a treat with each distinct characteristic preserved on this newest release. There is so much nuance in the animation uncovered thanks to this transfer.

The implementation of Dolby Vision allows the earthy colors present in this transfer to reach a richer degree of complexity. The hues complement each other while maintaining firm delineation and gradiation. Black levels are top-tier with no hint of banding or compression issues. If you are an animation fan, this release will be hard to top. This 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides the ideal presentation of this forgotten gem. We will take any 4K UHD release Deaf Crocodile wants to unleash upon the world.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original French (with optional English subtitles). As with the video, the audio portion of the presentation is a dream. The film deploys immersive and effective sound effects that make the environment feel more lifelike. The track handles atmospheric effects with a delicate hand that grounds you in the story. The sparse amount of dialogue comes through crisp and clear without sound effects or the haunting score overshadowing pivotal information. The music is one of the most memorable elements of this experience, and every note is as strong as the day it was recorded. This presentation captures the audio with the precision you expect from the label.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Gwen and the Book of Sand arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes a 60-page booklet featuring a new essay by director Jean-François Laguionie about the making of the film, as well as new essays by film historian Jennifer Barker and film critic Walter Chaw. All of these pieces provide a great amount of context for the background of the production, underlying themes, the work of the talent, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Film historian Samm Deighan provides a commentary track in which she discusses the story and themes of the film, the work of director Jean-François Laguionie, the animation technique and influences, the background of the creative figures, the film’s legacy, its place in French animation, and more.

Interview with Director Jean-François Laguionie: A new 66-minute interview with the filmmaker conducted by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile in which they discuss his personal background, the process of making Gwen and the Book of Sand, the inspiration for the film, the animation process, and so much more.

New 2024 Trailer (1:15)

The Language of the Sands: A 25-minute visual essay from journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson in which they explore the nature of time and its organization through ritual and custom.

Final Thoughts

Gwen and the Book of Sand is a fascinating bit of international animation that is especially engaging for adults, not due to any explicit content but rather its pacing and nimble narrative. The animation on display is stunning and a testament to the power of something crafted by hand. The film is brief, yet it lingers in your mind with numerous thrilling sequences and unparalleled artistry on display. It is the type of feature that we live to discover thanks to a great boutique label. Deaf Crocodile has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a first-rate A/V presentation and amazing special features. Highly Recommended

Gwen and the Book of Sand is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.