Thoughts #8: Swimming Pool
Released in May of 2003, Swimming Pool is an award winning crime/mystery, French film brought to life by the directing magic of Francois Ozon.
When Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio sat down to discuss their ideas for Shutter Island - this was a film that they viewed many times. It was under this recommendation that I seeked it out.
The story follows a famous British writer Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) who is having a case of writer’s block and decides to spend some time away from the hustle of the busy city and attempt to write at her publisher’s (John Bosload) beach house in the country. All seems normal until Bosload’s daughter shows up to the house unexpected. The events and relationships that occur between the two are quite obscure, dramatic, and unusual.
This film’s masterpiece is held in the last few minutes of the film. It is here that we can see why Scorsese was so interested in the film. With a finale much like that of Memento, or Usual Suspects - Swimming Pool keeps you wondering for hours after the credits have cleared.
Although Swimming Pool can be more than a bit unusual at times, and slightly uncomfortable - it delivers as a brilliantly written story. If you are looking for a bit of a change from the standard Hollywood line-up, I recommend you check this one out.
