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Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier, Charles Dance, Marc Fayolle, Jean-Marie Lamour ... see more see more... , Mireille Mosse , Frances Cuka , Jean-Claude Lecas , Tricia Aileen , Michel Fau , Keith Yeates , Lauren Farrow , Sebastian Harcombe

François Ozon's psychological thriller Swimming Pool stars Charlotte Rampling as a mystery writer. When Sarah (Rampling) is offered the use of her publisher's vacation home, she accepts the offer. The... read more read more... conservative, repressed Sarah clashes with the house's other inhabitant, Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), the uninhibited daughter of the publisher. Julie's promiscuous sex life intrigues Sarah and starts to lead to the thawing of the emotional deep-freeze between the two. The death of one of Julie's nightly assignations complicates their lives. Swimming Pool was screened in competition at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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64% liked it

28,532 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

149 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: François Ozon

Release Date: July 2, 2003

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DVD Release Date: January 13, 2004

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Stats: 1,369 reviews

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Swimming Pool Ludivine Sagnier Ludivine Sagnier CHARLOTTE RAMPLING Emilie Gavois-Kahn Charlotte Rampling Swimming Pool Michel Fau Swimming Pool Swimming Pool
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Flixster Reviews (1,369)

  • fb619846742
    September 23, 2011
    fb619846742
    A stylish but ultimately somewhat disappointing exercise in writing, insanity, and the strain two very different people encounter living in the same vacation home. Think "The Odd Couple", only darker, nuder, and much more slower-paced, the film's overall style and masterful perfo... read morermances really help make somewhat mundane material watchable. Rampling is especially impressive as a writer trying to find inspiration for a new story, and maybe finding that in the town whore (Ludivine Sagnier), who just happens to be her publisher's daughter living with her for the time being. The ending does have a twist to it, although it is not as creative and mind-boggling as it thinks it is (I had two theories as to how it was end, one of them was right). Still, director Francois Ozon's feel for the camera and space is irrefutably remarkable, and the only thing that keeps this thing from being watchable is a near third-act collapse and a finale that is predictable. Still, not a bad film at all, probably worth watching if you are a French-art film fan.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    February 6, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "On the surface, all is calm."

    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.

    REVIEW
    ... read more
    Intriguing character study with Rampling as a successful mystery writer who tries to come up with a new storyline is invited by her well-meaning editor Dance to visit his home in France where she gets more than she bargained for in the supine form of his Lolita-esque daughter (Sagnier). Surprisingly funny and plot enveloping as the film progresses into a nice little twist by the end yet could have used more juice to the proceedings at hand although Rampling again proves to be a wonderfully cunning actress that has more talent in her dead-pan eyes than most starlets do in their pinkies and Sagnier provides some naughty fun along the way.
  • Julie
    February 6, 2009
    Julie
    I couldn't remember if I'd seen this, so I started watching it and then I remembered that I had seen it, but I couldn't remember how it ended, so I watched it again. It's a good little thriller with a twist.
  • moonrivers
    January 27, 2009
    moonrivers
    a bored and self-disgruntled writer of formulaic mystery thrillers takes a vacation in the sultry French countryside to recharge and, quite literally, finds her Muse again. It's the budding relationship between the staid cool and controlled outer shell of the writer (Rampling wo... read morenderfully cast and playing against type...except for her eyes and lips!) and her steamy simmering - and much younger - interior self (Sagnier) that make this sexy female "Fight Club" take curiously fascinating.
  • Redlats
    October 21, 2008
    Redlats
    A strange movie. I still don't get the last scene - Julie is not Julia??? But the relationship between Julie and Sarah is interesting to say the least.
  • rezpatriot
    March 20, 2008
    rezpatriot
    Gets a bunch of stars for storyline but doesn't really fit in to any mode of the scene which is all the rave in any person fucking mouth. Right? Fuck off
  • cancercapricorn2002
    September 20, 2007
    cancercapricorn2002
    English writer Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) needs a break from London and wants to write her new novel in seclusion. Her publisher sends her to his Italian house--miles away from anyone. She loves it but then the publisher's daughter Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) shows up. Things... read more get tense...and REALLY strange. To say anymore would be unthinkable. You'll have to see the movie to find out. I don't want to give to much away here

    This is the kind of movie that switches gears halfway through--but pulls it off. It starts as a character study of Morton but when Julie shows up things take a decidedly unexpected twist. This does fall into " its not a film for everyone" category, for one reason you have to pay strict attention to catch all the twists and turns and alot of people are not up for that, In fact it doesn't totally make sense till the very end. Beautifully directed (and cowritten) by Francois Ozon--a real director to look out for.

    Just a terrific film but like I said not for everyone. In the end it may be too quiet and require to much attention for some and there is a lot of nudity in this (mostly female) and if your of the prudish type then you might want to stay away but if your looking for a great story with alot of twists and turns you can't go wrong here.
  • Camus123
    July 17, 2007
    Camus123
    thought I was going to see a semi-traditional or foreign Mystery/Thriller. While this film held some attributes of both genres this was certainly not the crux. There is the beginning of some great character development and some wonderfully tranquil scenes and while I enjoyed the ... read morefilm it never quite got there (I would really give it more of 3.5 stars). I feel that the film decided to take an American turn as it twisted towards the end. This kind of twist is usually less transparent for foreign directors and left me somewhat unsatisfied. I will say that some of the subtle ambiguities were nice. One of the biggest problems I have is that every time the movie tries to be suspenseful you will know exactly what is about to happen next. Note the word "decides" and translate to be contrived. This detracted little from my enjoyment of the film though since the suspense was more of a construct and less of an integral part of the movie, but it became a little tedious in places. All in all this is a good film. It strives towards bringing you good characters, it has some wonderful scenery, it has some delicious erotic moments, and you will find yourself involved with the characters. All this having been said...it tries too hard and in trying it immediately fails. This movie should have let itself get where it wanted to go rather than forced to go where it ended up. I know this sounds confusing, but I do recommend the film and if you watch it you may agree with me. For those looking for a traditional thriller or car chase or need to perpetual over-stim of the Americanized thriller...look elsewhere. For those of you who took the time to read this whole review...this film is probably for you.
  • ironclad1609
    May 20, 2007
    ironclad1609
    Erotic thriller that's starting out somewhat slow and suffers from a rather dislikable female main character. The movie gets semi-entertaining once the nymphomaniac blonde enters the scene. After an hour, however, the characters start acting rather implausible and there is no rea... read morel sign of excitement at any point, despite of the gorgeous blonde not wearing a whole lot. The final twist simply does not make sense at all. Once again, it's a case of the French trying to be deep but forgetting to entertain on the way.
  • jjnxn
    April 7, 2007
    jjnxn
    wonderful charlotte rampling performance in this interesting fim

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Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar
August 8, 2003
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Ozon simultaneously manages to make his film lazily sexual and crisply suspenseful.

Rex Reed
August 6, 2003
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Two parts psychological thriller and one part pretentious French art-house head-scratcher that leaves you mumbling, 'Duh.' Full Review

Joe Baltake
July 21, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Rampling and Sagnier play women for whom danger means different, opposing things, women who become unlikely allies in a tidy little mystery. Inspector Durvell -- and Alfred Hitchcock -- would approve. Full Review

Bill Muller
July 19, 2003
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

The story occasionally wanders, but Swimming Pool is definitely worth a dip.

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
July 16, 2003
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A delectable and daring psychological drama. Full Review

Peter Howell
July 11, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Think of it as a box of chocolates, with Sagnier being the chocolate-covered cherry. And you know the problem with chocolates: They're great to eat but they offer no nourishment whatsoever, and afterw... Full Review

Steven Rea
July 11, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Rampling and Sagnier are very good in roles that demand very different things of them, and Ozon's mix of peril and playfulness make for a seductive cinematic diversion.

Jeff Strickler
July 11, 2003
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Offers an inside-out twist on TV's Murder She Wrote. Full Review

Eric Harrison
July 11, 2003
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

Ozon takes a long time setting up his story, but the interplay between Sagnier and Rampling is electric. Full Review

Rick Groen
July 11, 2003
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Well-acted, nicely shot, slick and certainly sexy, Swimming Pool may be all foreplay and no climax, but what the heck -- there are worse ways to be teased. Full Review

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Swimming Pool Trivia

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