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| Swimming Pool
Year: 2003
Classification: Thriller
Directed:
- Francois Ozon
Actors/Actresses:
- Charlotte Rampling as Sarah Morton
- Ludivine Sagnier
- Charles Dance as John
- Jean Marie Lamour as Franck
Conflict and Voyeurism
Sarah Morton is a successful British writer who is tired of her patronizing publisher. Working through writer's block, the publisher suggests she spend quality time at his chateau in southern France. Unfortunately for Sarah, the publisher's daughter Julie shows up unannounced. The rest of the story is a slowly building, tense 'face off' between the two women. A quiet countryside manor with a pool and two women battling for their independence from each other makes for surprising conflicts and liaisons. Jealousy, intolerance and voyeurism all form strong motifs in what seems to be a simple murder mystery. The plot has the viewer constantly guessing about the motives and reasons behind every action or comment. Even when things seem finished and wrapped up; there is a shocking twist that would make Hitchcock proud.
Note: Theatrical trailer is included and there are some deleted scenes, but they add no insight to the film or it's direction.
Interesting Mood Piece
"Swimming Pool" opens quite genteelly, as a successful English mystery writer (Sarah Morton, played by Charlotte Rampling) finds herself wanting to stretch literarily. When she approaches her publisher (Chalres Dance), with whom she may be having an affair, he suggests rather dismissively that she needs a vacation. He offers her the use of his country home in France. Despite her hesitation, she decides to go and surprisingly soon feels refreshed and ready to start a new novel. The next day, however, an unexpected complication arrives in the form of Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), Dance's sensuous French daughter. The two women clash initially, as Sarah is annoyed by the intrusion and then shocked by the stream of men that Julie parades home for casual sex. Gradually, the women form a wary bond, although Sarah may be more than a little jealous of the younger woman.BR> BR>The two starring actresses are superlative and make this movie believable and captivating; accordingly they received Cesar nominations (the French equivalent of the Oscar) for Best Actress (Rampling) and Best Supporting Actress (Sagnier). French director François Ozon (Under the Sand, 8 Women) shows remarkable control of his material and sustains a steadily building sense of suspense and intrigue. As we learn more about the characters, the movie becomes more subtle and the tension increases. Unfortunately, the film takes a bit of a wrong-headed turn in the final third, as Sarah imagines that a murder may have occurred. Ultimately, "Swimming Pool" is a solid mood piece with a disappointing final act that diminishes its impact.
Extras: The DVD features the original trailer and some deleted scenes, which mostly depict Rampling's arrival in France and her puttering around the village sight-seeing. These scenes are rather boring and add nothing to the story.
Nudity, yes; get over it!
Wow! Swimming Pool is an intelligent, and fantastic film. Don't expect to be a passive viewer, and wait for everything to be explained to you. There is nudity. Enjoy it. Get over it. This is a film about a writer, who's become locked into a series of books she's sick of. At her publisher's house in France, she spends several days with writer's block. She creates a character, and writes the best book of her career. I recommend Secret Window starring Johnny Depp, to be seen with this movie!
Buy Swimming Pool at Amazon.com
Buy posters at Allposters.com
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