The Swimming Pool

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Hermione R Feb 21, 2019 In many ways 'the' French film. Terribly chic and well lived people rattle about on the coast, until passion gets ahold of them and it gets kind of wild. See more

Ron P Feb 8, 2019 Intricate, twisty and steamy French thriller. I prefer the remake. See more

Harry G May 28, 2018 It is very slow moving and probably somewhat overly long but the presence of good actors and the insinuating and unobtrusive camerawork make it for enjoyable experience. And even though the movie doesn't leave any questions unanswered still it provides a good food for thought the flavour of which you will likely enjoy after you've reached the end. See more

Harry S Sep 12, 2017 While its eye-pleasing visuals highly resemble to a David Hockney painting, the film reveals itself to be less translucent, more consistent. It is an eye-filler pleasure, both in its setting and cast, its inherent sensuality, and its iconic couple, being the handsomely charismatic young Alain Delon and the beautiful Romy Schneider. Though, the pool of 'La Piscine' shows its depth in a perhaps familiar tale which rises from its depicting of the usual human flaws to a tragic extremity. A part of the charm of the picture is also its ambiguous moral color. See more

Hermione S Jul 21, 2017 Young and beautiful Delon and Schneider are Marianne and Jean-Paul, a wealthy couple spending a torrid summer in a borrowed villa.They are lovers and cannot keep their hands off each other. However, apart from the sex, they do not seem to have much to do or say to each other. Their common friend Harry happens to be in the neigborhoud and they invite him over, with his pubescent daughter Penelope (played by Birkin, who was well over twenty at the time, but definitely looking younger). The arrival of the second couple adds considerable sexual tension. Harry and Marianne were lovers and Jean-Paul is jealous. Marianne acts ambiguously, flirting with Hurry. Jean-Paul toys with Penelope, creating a stifling, sexually-charged atmosphere. In the lazy summer days, nothing much happens, apart from the couples enjoying the pool of the title and inviting friends for a party. However, the tension reaches melting point. Besides having a sadistic streak Jean-Paul turns out as a cold-blooded murderer, drowning Harry for reasons difficult to understand. The murder passes off as an accident, but Marianne is suspicious, She finds out the truth and considers leaving Jean-Paul, but the final frame shows them together. We can assume that sexual attraction is stronger than any moral instinct and that they will continue their frolic - at least until the passion lasts. Very voyeuristic movie, with a Schneider at the top of her game, seductive yet fragile and very beautiful. Delon, wooden as usual still manages decent interpretation. Barkin is terrible, could not act. The 2015 remake "A bigger splash" is vastly inferior, from the choice of cast to the plot development. Swinton is a far cry from luminous Schneider, having only a fraction of her allure. Johnson is a bad as Birkin and less believable as a teenager. Only Fiennes makes a more engaging Harry, fleshing out a part than in this movie is more ambiguous. See more

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The Swimming Pool

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