Movie: Swimming Pool
Starring Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier
Written by Francois Ozon & Emmanuele Berheim
Directed by Francois Ozon (Focus Features)
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes

---

Swimming Pool is the summer's best sexy mystery by far. Actually, now that I think of it, it may be the only sexy mystery in a summer dominated by predictable action movie sequels, but I'd call it one of the year's best films no matter what.

Charlotte Rampling plays Sarah Morton, a mystery writer who's in a bit of a rut. She's sent to her publisher's hideaway in the South of France to break her writer's block. Unexpectedly she encounters the publisher's wild young daughter Julie, played by Ludivine Sagnier, who's in a bit of a rut herself. As in rutting season. Julie makes herself at home by the pool (after all it is her dad's place) and proceeds to destroy Sarah's tranquility with a parade of lovers.

The conflict between the lusty youngster and the coldly judgmental writer might have been interesting enough to move the plot forward as a tug of wills, and it does just that for a good part of the flick, but suddenly there be murder afoot and Sarah finds herself helping to cover it up. She also finds it brings her well-honed criminologist talents to the fore, egging her on in spite of the danger.

Filmed partly in French, director Francois Ozon has made sure that Swimming Pool has heaping helpings of tension, suspense and au natural shots of Sagnier. At one point even Ms. Rampling shows that she's aged rather gracefully, but all that's just the lure to hook you into a web where things aren't always what they seem. Ozon's made an immensely satisfying movie, especially with a twist at the end that I never saw coming, yet it sums things up with no loose ends.

The Skinny:
Did I enjoy the film? C'mon in, the water's fine.
Would I go to see it again? Seeing Ludivine Sagnier sunbathing by the pool is enough to take a second dip, but there's a great mystery story here too.

© 2003 - Rusty Pipes