David O'ConnellSwimming Pool
December 8th 2008 04:53
Having a major character who is a writer often affords a filmmaker the luxury of artifice - like blurring the lines between truth and fiction, as in the case of Francois Ozon’s tantalizing Swimming Pool, a slow-burning drama from 2003 with sinuous hints of a darker mystery that only resolve themselves in the perplexing conclusion.
Charlotte Rampling is English crime fiction author Sarah Morton, disillusioned by her continuing series of Inspector Dorwell novels, despite their success. She’s desperate for fresh inspiration, and tired of the special treatment she once received being foisted upon much younger upstarts by her publisher John Bosload (Charles Dance).
The two were apparently lovers at some point, a relationship Sarah would like to rekindle, but John only wants to offload her and suggests his scenic and peaceful French retreat – a remote house nestled away near a small village in the South.
Sarah settles in and begins to write, her creative energy - stifled by her inner turmoil of late - soon returning with a rush. The environment seems like the perfect cure…….......…..until the unexpected arrival of John’s estranged daughter Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), a provocative, carefree party girl and whirlwind of loud noise who likes to parade around semi-naked, bringing different male companions to the house every night.
The two women, with their vastly different personalities, are soon at loggerheads though both are determined to compromise – or at least to not give an inch, and so an implicit understanding of sorts is reached.
It'd be cruel to reveal much more of the plot as the third act builds momentum and changes direction a number of times; it's definitely a film which relies on as little in the way of revelations as possible for maximum impact.
Ozon uses music sparingly, his composer Philippe Rombi foreshadowing the darker plot developments with his bleak and ominous theme as early as the opening titles; it raises an expectation of murkier turns to follow but Ozon drags the drama out, teasing with his absorbing set-up and follow-through.
His deliberately languid pace adds another dimension of anticipation whilst not a lot is really happening other than the two women jostling for supremacy, trying to find common ground on which they can exist in something close to harmony.
The skill is in the idiosyncratic manner with which Ozon sketches these women, like the eccentric, almost childishly guilty cravings of Sarah’s hunger, and the way she steals from her reluctant young companion to secrete the machinations of her latest narrative - details which begin to take shape from the clues of Julie’s life, some of which are attached to the personal demons of her mysterious mother’s life and, possibly, death.
We never question what might not be real, only because Ozon’s world is so convincing created, but as the surprising climax nears, he’s readying his audience for a fall, the rug about to be pulled out from underneath our feet; it’s here, at the most crucial moments, that the lines between fact and fiction are blurred by clues disguised as authentic details - clues that need a second viewing to convince us that they even existed at all.
Rampling and Sagnier are a perfectly matched duo, both giving uninhibited and provocative performances, whilst Ozon - who had first directed both women in Under the Sand and Water Drops on Burning Rocks respectively – provides another fascinating film to his expanding, impressive body of work.
Refined, subtle and in the end, complex and confounding, Swimming Pool can be seen as exotic manipulation or cheap entertainment – or a masterful combination of both. Either way, you won’t be bored.
Charlotte Rampling is English crime fiction author Sarah Morton, disillusioned by her continuing series of Inspector Dorwell novels, despite their success. She’s desperate for fresh inspiration, and tired of the special treatment she once received being foisted upon much younger upstarts by her publisher John Bosload (Charles Dance).
The two were apparently lovers at some point, a relationship Sarah would like to rekindle, but John only wants to offload her and suggests his scenic and peaceful French retreat – a remote house nestled away near a small village in the South.
Sarah settles in and begins to write, her creative energy - stifled by her inner turmoil of late - soon returning with a rush. The environment seems like the perfect cure…….......…..until the unexpected arrival of John’s estranged daughter Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), a provocative, carefree party girl and whirlwind of loud noise who likes to parade around semi-naked, bringing different male companions to the house every night.
Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) and the intimidating Julie (Ludivine Sagnier)!!
The two women, with their vastly different personalities, are soon at loggerheads though both are determined to compromise – or at least to not give an inch, and so an implicit understanding of sorts is reached.
It'd be cruel to reveal much more of the plot as the third act builds momentum and changes direction a number of times; it's definitely a film which relies on as little in the way of revelations as possible for maximum impact.
Ozon uses music sparingly, his composer Philippe Rombi foreshadowing the darker plot developments with his bleak and ominous theme as early as the opening titles; it raises an expectation of murkier turns to follow but Ozon drags the drama out, teasing with his absorbing set-up and follow-through.
Lingering shots of Julie by the pool are plentiful..........and prime!
His deliberately languid pace adds another dimension of anticipation whilst not a lot is really happening other than the two women jostling for supremacy, trying to find common ground on which they can exist in something close to harmony.
The skill is in the idiosyncratic manner with which Ozon sketches these women, like the eccentric, almost childishly guilty cravings of Sarah’s hunger, and the way she steals from her reluctant young companion to secrete the machinations of her latest narrative - details which begin to take shape from the clues of Julie’s life, some of which are attached to the personal demons of her mysterious mother’s life and, possibly, death.
Julie will occasionally wear clothes...........
We never question what might not be real, only because Ozon’s world is so convincing created, but as the surprising climax nears, he’s readying his audience for a fall, the rug about to be pulled out from underneath our feet; it’s here, at the most crucial moments, that the lines between fact and fiction are blurred by clues disguised as authentic details - clues that need a second viewing to convince us that they even existed at all.
Rampling and Sagnier are a perfectly matched duo, both giving uninhibited and provocative performances, whilst Ozon - who had first directed both women in Under the Sand and Water Drops on Burning Rocks respectively – provides another fascinating film to his expanding, impressive body of work.
Refined, subtle and in the end, complex and confounding, Swimming Pool can be seen as exotic manipulation or cheap entertainment – or a masterful combination of both. Either way, you won’t be bored.
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Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I saw this movie in 2005 and loved it so much that I watched it shortly after on DVD. It certainly is provocative and mysterious. I dare say, it's probably not what a lot of people look for in movies. For me, it was a 4/5.
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I've been a fan of Ozon's for a while and really like Under the Sand and Criminal Lovers in particular, as well as many of his short films which have screened on World Movies and are collected on a DVD set.
I have another of his recent films, 5 X 2, to watch and hopefully review also. He's quite a prolific young filmmaker and very well-regarded in France it seems.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Thanks for the info.
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I'm ashamed - I know, as a fan of Ozon, I really should see it though, I'm sure it'll defy all my expectations. Is it a good romp?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I know what you mean, I was also sceptical about the singing part but it's quite a good jaunt. I saw it a while ago now so my thoughts are dim, but I know I liked it more than I expected. But it definitely isn't in the distinguished realm of Swimming Pool or Under the Sand.
5x2 is next on my Ozon list...
Tracy
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
The envirowarrior thinks she could become very ozon friendly *lol* (sorry for the silly I couldnt resist) but, truly, this is exactly the type of film I love to watch and this one looks great.
I will lookout for it and hope my video store has it, they have such a poor taste of alternative viewing it is terrible.
A great review btw, thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Lilla ...
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Thanks as always Cib, and I fully agree, I don't think Sagnier is a ravishing beauty but she's very comfortable in her skin and a wonderfully carefree, uninhibited performer. I've liked her in everything I've seen so far.
Thankyou Lilla! A very 'Ozon'-friendly environment in these parts! And I hope you track it down very shortly, I'm sure you'll be mesmerised by it too.
Damn video stores can be notoriously bad with their limited range! The trouble is they cater to people with absolutely no taste!!!!.................... for every 500 copies of Iron Man in store is one lousy copy of the brilliant stuff like Swimming Pool!!!
Comment by Anonymous
Aaaahhh..... nothing bring a tear to my eye like a cat fight. Is there per chance any jelly in this one Dave?
Good review.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I love the poster too with the word "Pool" disappearing under the water.
And very brave move of Rampling to do full-frontal nudity at her age.
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile