The Woman in the Dunes

The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe is probably his finest. The plot is weird, the tone ominous, and the writing otherworldly.

After missing the last bus home following a day trip to the seashore, an amateur entomologist is offered lodging for the night at the bottom of a vast sand pit. But when he attempts to leave the next morning, he quickly discovers that the locals have other plans. Held captive with seemingly no chance of escape, he is tasked with shoveling back the ever-advancing dunes that threaten to destroy the village. His only companion is an odd young woman. Together their fates become intertwined as they work side by side for survival. 

The movie (suna no onna) based on The Woman in the Dunes is a masterpiece of Japanese cinema.