Movie - Swimming Pool [Japan BD] SHBR-109

After recently viewing 45 Years and remembering the spell that Charlotte Rampling casts over The NightPorter and her other films, I was quick to buy Swimming Pool. What a treat, but what else could we cometo expect..? To those who want clarity in film, known as Americans, sorry, but this is a French work of art.As enjoyable to me as watching this multilayered riddle of mysteries is to analyze the reviews of the Amazon faithful, who run the gamut of reactions and interpretations to what has been thrown at them..My take is that no single idea of what the film means can have much meaning..The symbolism and fleshwhich relentlessly assaults the psyche of the viewer assures little to no consensus of any narrative..Afterall of this, I deem it both foolhardy and presumptuous to offer any solution to any of this..I have none..Charlotte Rampling owns the film, as she has most recently in 45 Years..In my opinion, no other filmartist proves so stunningly the old adage that acting is basically an exercise in reacting..We first see hersecure in her costume of a frozen frump, failing pathetically to hide her longing for her book publisher,who wonderfully displays his seductive guile through cruelty and reminders that money is all that thereis to it..Once the story moves to the French countryside, we are beguiled by a sense of isolation and beauty, where privacy allows license for behavior of any fashion, beckoned by the swimming pool..whichoffers the display of the body and opportunity for sexual expression and mischief with no consequences.Yes, we have Julie the sexpot, who bares her breasts as just one feature of her fury and defiance againsther father..The one reviewer who saw the story as anchored in sexual abuse themes explaining the coreand impact on the two female leads may be onto something, but this is obscure and unknowable to most.Those who object to the nudity fail to see this movie as essentially psychosexual, thus, alwaysconfusing. ButMs. Rampling is more than capable and equipped to confront such themes..Sorry, Ladies, but there are few females in film, let alone on this planet, who at 57, when this film was made, who can recline nude onfilm and appear not disgusting, but incredibly enticing, to say nothing of that mesmerizing face, which willalways be timeless..and haunting..Those who try to explain this film will always be fated to a fool's errand..Ms. Rampling will transcend narrative and the ravages of age, and we each are so fortunate thatshe, unlike no one else, does so, and, in doing so, presents us with images, which tell us that there willalways be magic in the experience of film..unlike anything else. She is a treasure.

This movie is an interesting tale but the ending was slightly puzzling, leaving it open to interpretation. I was drawn to this as I really like Ludivine Sagnier and be warned, there is a fair bit of nudity involved although nothing too gratuitous. It is also mixed French and English dialogue.The characters are not especially likable, particularly the main character Sarah Morton, an English writer. She kind of grows on you a bit throughout. Julie (Ludivine) is more likable, but frustrating in a petulant teenager sort of way.I enjoyed the movie and recommend it for a nice, easy mystery.

Adult movie with lots of twists in the plot and lots of nudity

I really did not enjoy this film after I first screened it. However, I have reconsidered watching it again, after reviewing some five pages of plausible possibilities on what exactly transpired during the 103 minutes of this film.On the surface, the movie seems pretty straight forward. A lonely, bitter, spinster, English murder mystery novelist travels to France, at her publisher's request, for some much needed rest and relaxation. Her publisher hopes this getaway will re-invigorate his client to write again. While staying at her publisher's villa in France, the author (Sarah) is joined by Julie, the publisher's daughter, who has also stopped by her father's house for some rest and relaxation. A murder is committed, and our two female characters go on to depose of the evidence. In the end, Sarah writes a new murder mystery novel titled "Swimming Pool" which retells the events of her French retreat, only to have it distributed by another publishing firm.The issue at hand is what's real and what's fiction. The most common belief is that at some point in the film, the movie moves from reality to a novel-in-progress being created in our author's mind; however, being played out right before the audience's eyes. Again, it's up to you (the audience) to figure out where reality stops and imagination begins. Others believe that everything is real. That our publisher is some sort of male gigolo, who has left many scorned women in his path to include our writer, and her novel is her retribution for his actions. There are even others who believe that it's the color red which is splashed throughout this film, that holds the true key to unlocking the mysteries of this film. The speculations go on and on from the absurd, "that this is a tawdry tale of incest and debauchery"; to the more interesting, "that Julie and Sarah are one and the same person." Either way, it's up to the viewer to develop their own conjectures and conclusions. Which I am sure will be different from anyone else, but isn't that why you go to the movies in the first place? To provoke thought, and evoke discussion.Again, the film is not as cut-and-dry as it may first appears, and I highly recommend visiting the message board for the "Swimming Pool" on IMDb([...] Just to see how other interpreted the film as well. I have to admit that I am willing to give this film another shot. Maybe you should do the same. I must add that some of the subject matter in this film is VERY adult and sexual in nature. This film could very easy upset those of you who are easily offended. View at you own risk.[...]

Don't be put off by the German Blu Ray not stating English language version on the cover as I nearly was. Just go to Sprachen/ton on settings and select 'Originalfassung stereo'. You will then get the original English stereo soundtrack. If German subs show, you can easily disable them. Then sit back and enjoy a fine little psychological thriller with Charlotte Rampling and cast on top form under the direction of the great Francois Ozon. Quality of the Blu Ray is fine, but I hope a new 4k scan is done and released soon for the UK/US market as this film deserves it.

This is a very stylish, very atmospheric, very French and also a very slow film. It's a mystery film about a mystery writer. The writer, Sarah (Charlotte Rampling), is a very British lady with much British restraint. At the invitation of her publisher John (Charles Dance) she spends time at his house in France to help her overcome a bout of writers block. And one can't shake off the feeling that she is expecting, or at least secretly hoping for, a visit from him while there. Or is it all a fantasy of hers? Because with her appearance, the short and practical haircut, the minimal makeup, her rather masculine style of dressing, one can't but wonder where her sexual preference lies.One night, completely out of the blue, arrives Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), a brash and vivacious young woman claiming to be John's daughter. The two women resent each other's presence but manage to arrange themselves to coexist in the house, the atmosphere charged with the tension between the repressed spinster and the promiscuous girl who brings home a different man every night. All the time there is the feeling that something momentous is going to happen, and when at long last it does, it is the murder of one of Julie's lovers. Here the film picks up a little speed and various twists and turns follow. You have to pay close attention to what is going on or you won't be able to make sense of it.The film is beautifully shot, much of it on location in France, and mostly in a rather muted colour palette of beige and greens, punctuated by the sparkling blue of the large swimming pool once the drab cover is taken off and it's cleaned up. This introduction of vibrant colour coincides with Julie's intrusion in Sarah's life of peaceful solitude. However, it is the performances of the two lead actresses that really make the film interesting. Charlotte Rampling is quite sensational throughout, as is Ludivine Sagnier who manages to give her initially rather unlikable character great warmth and humanity. Charles Dance is well cast in what is a rather small supporting role. There is quite a lot of nudity and several highly erotic scenes of a sexual nature. As well as being an integral part of the story, these are beautifully handled. However, viewers who are not comfortable with this kind of thing are probably well advised to give this film a miss.The DVD is good. English subtitles are available for those who need them. Any instances of French dialogue in the English version are subtitled in English. The following extra features are included: - Cast interviews (Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier) - Cannes 2003 - Red Carpet Footage - Stills Gallery - Promo Reel - Trailer

A superb film by Director Francois Ozon who also wrote the screenplay. I think Charlotte Rampling was an excellent choice to play the writer suffering from writer's block, which does happen to anyone who has ever done any form of creative writing. French Actress..Ludivine Sagnier gave the part of the publisher's wayward daughter, such contained attack, the role really did come to life.I like the part at the end when Charlotte Rampling smiles at the camera...noting everyone did get the ending, a really good film and very watchable. The name of Rampling's character in the film...Sarah Morton, was the name of Charlotte Rampling's sister.I did meet Charlotte Rampling in London in the late 1960's at an event...she was very slender with long hair and such elf like features, already making a name in the UK film industry. She did say...She was going to make some films in France. We all know now, she went on to make numerous films in France, and such a talented lady.

This one French film I thoroughly enjoyed. There is no pretention of making it a art film. A good story well presented.A mystery writer,Sara Morton, in mid-literary career crisis, comes to France to spend some time in the holiday residence of her publisher and finish her new novel.There she comes across the daughter of her publisher,who leads a very libertine life. They do not get along very well,but arrange to live in the house together with as less friction as possible.Then the writer slowly gets involved in the life of the daughter and the murder of her lover. This is where the real story starts.The line between fiction and reality merges. The writer finishes her novel and goes back to London. And then there is a last twist to the story. Watch the ending carefully.The cinematography of the film is a feast for the eyes. All the beauty of the French countryside comes out in vibrant warm colours.The whole atmosphere of the fim is charged with high power erotic esp. in the person of daughter of the publisher played by Ludivine Sagnier

I liked all the film, although the demise of the third gentleman, from the cafe; was a little extreme and disturbing.I suppose that it is some kind of artistic license - but then, "Is the law in rural France somewhat lax?" I ask myself. I wasparticularly intrigued with the life of the writer and her travel equipment. A very good film, good to see it again!