Swimming Pool (2003)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

François Ozon

Writers:

François Ozon (screenplay)
Emmanuèle Bernheim (writer)

Release Date:

21 May 2003 (Belgium)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Dive into this summer's sexiest mystery

Plot:

A British mystery author visits her publisher's home in the South of France, where her interaction with his unusual daughter sets off some touchy dynamics.

Plot Keywords:

Publisher | France | Writer | Night | Countryside

Awards:

2 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Charlotte Rampling	...	Sarah Morton
Ludivine Sagnier	...	Julie
Charles Dance	...	John Bosload
Jean-Marie Lamour	...	Franck
Marc Fayolle	...	Marcel
Mireille Mossé	...	Marcel's Daughter
Michel Fau	...	First Man
Jean-Claude Lecas	...	Second Man
Emilie Gavois-Kahn	...	Waitress at Cafe (as Emilie Gavois Kahn)
Erarde Forestali	...	Old Man
Lauren Farrow	...	Julia
Sebastian Harcombe	...	Terry Long
Frances Cuka	...	Lady on the Underground
Keith Yeates	...	Sarah's Father
Tricia Aileen	...	John Bosload's Secretary

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Canada:A (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB (re-rating) | Hong Kong:III (original rating) | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) (edited version) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R (cut)

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Fidélité Productions

Trivia:

Charlotte Rampling's character Sarah is named after her sister, who killed herself at age 23. She told The Guardian, "I thought that after such a very long time of not letting her be with me that I would like to bring her back into my life."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Sarah is shown typing at her laptop, she is clearly pressing the keys at random and sometimes several at once.

Quotes:

Sarah Morton: I pity your mother.
Julie: You pity her? Why?
Sarah Morton: Well, I imagine having a daughter who comes home with a different man every night must be difficult for a mother.
Julie: Well, you imagine wrong. You know what? You're just a frustrated Englishwoman who writes about dirty things but never does them. You can shove your uptight morals up your ass!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Semi-Pro (2008)

Soundtrack:

Mirror Ball ('Let's do it')

Excellent

I first saw this film on HBO in 2005 and now own it. HBO and others continue to run it. It is a very mature, engrossing film with a metaphorical plot. From the opening credits it immediately begs for your attention and once it has you in its grasp, you will find you cannot escape. A successful author of a series of mystery novels but bored with her work, Charlotte Rampling goes to the south of France for looking for fresh ideas for a new book, begins down one avenue and then changes direction. The location, photography and performances are exceptional as is the set design, replete with elegant simplicity that flows past your eyes. You are drawn in so well you can taste the wine and feel the pool's water flowing around you. The actors, especially Rampling and the actress who plays Julie, are impeccable. The Swimming Pool is a totally wonderful experience. Dive in!