Londoner Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) is a mystery writer, famous for a series of Detective so-and-so novels, of which she’s equal parts drained to equal parts unfulfilled.
Her editor, John (Charles Dance), suggests Sarah get away to his vacation home in France; rejuvenate, refresh; see if a change of scenery will inspire another Detective so-and-so book; or perhaps even something original, something unexpected.
Charlotte Rampling's Holiday Starts Out Swimmingly
Upon arrival, Sarah takes in the lovely greenery, soaks up the sun, and the soft, Summer wind; the villa is lovely, the nearby village, even lovelier; but, what most attracts Sarah’s attention, is the swimming pool.
Perhaps, because it appears to be the only thing in the idyllic setting, not perfectly pristine. But, it matters not the condition, for the only visceral attraction one has to a swimming pool, is the clear blue water; deep and shimmering when still; inviting in waves.
And when Sarah lifts the dark plastic covering, weighted by the fallen winter leaves, she sees the water beneath, inexplicably, is still crystal clear and sky blue.
Charlotte Rampling At Face Value
After exhausting all the simple pleasures one enjoys while on holiday, like shopping and eating and sleeping and watching mindless television; Sarah cracks open her laptop, and precedes to write. The work flows rapidly and fluidly through Sarah, as she turns out several pages. Exhausted and satisfied, she retires to bed.
Sarah is suddenly awakened to a noise downstairs; when she reaches the living room, she is met by her editor’s daughter, a very young and very attractive young lady named Julie (Ludivine Sagnier); who apparently has chosen to crash at daddy’s sweet pad, unannounced and unexpected.
As is actress Charlotte Rampling’s beauty, her disappointment and distress, at having her lovely time smashed to bits, is written all over her face; which of course is Ms. Rampling's power as an actress, to subtly shift the tone of a scene with her unbelievably expressive face.
The next morning, Sarah awakens to find Julie has uncovered the swimming pool, and is back-stroking through the leaves, unconscious, or uncaring, as to what other debris may be clinging to her nude body.
After Julie emerges from the water, Sarah expresses her disgust; the swimming pool, she says, is a germ-infested disease carrier.
Julie, soon proves to be a promiscuous young woman; bringing home a different man every night; much to the dismay of Sarah. But, Sarah, as a writer who is constantly driven to create, is inspired by Julie’s youthful indiscretions; and begins to live vicariously through the uninhibited wild child.
On The Surface, All Is Calm
The relationship between Sarah and Julie deepens, and director François Ozon skillfully ratchets up the tension, as the two characters become more and more entwined; their mutual fates in suspension, as Sarah’s imagination broadens, and Julie’s behavior becomes more risque.
François Ozon’s use of the fear-inducing strings lushly composed by Philippe Rombi, perfectly recalls the greatness of Alfred Hitchcock’s music composer Bernard Herrmann; sensually leading the viewer on, to a heightened state of awareness.
On The Surface, All Is Calm is the tagline used on the poster art and DVD cover for Swimming Pool; and there couldn't be a more apt 6-word tease.
The cumulative suspense created by Ozon’s memorable photography, born of a cleverly subtle script, nudges the viewer to look closer, and to read deeper, what is in plain sight, and what may lie beneath the surface of Swimming Pool.
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