Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => The Vault => Topic started by: jokerspath on July 01, 2003, 02:51:15 PM

Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: jokerspath on July 01, 2003, 02:51:15 PM
This starts Wednesday evening I believe and I saw a trailer that left me iffy.  Anyone gonna see this?

aw
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: filmcritic on July 01, 2003, 04:32:18 PM
I would love to see it. I saw the trailer too and I'll be taking a trip to New York soon and I'm going to try to see it there. It looks really great and Ebert & Roeper gave it two thumbs way up. Judging from the trailer, it looks very haunting and brilliant. It looks like it will also be rather disturbing and dark. I hope it works.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Ghostboy on July 01, 2003, 05:25:59 PM
I thought it looked more like a playful murder mystery. But I'll see anything from Francois Ozon, so I'm there.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: pete on July 08, 2003, 07:57:08 PM
this film is terrible.  it's like a lifetime movie with a lot of nudity.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: jokerspath on July 09, 2003, 08:04:52 AM
Quote from: petethis film is terrible.  it's like a lifetime movie with a lot of nudity.

Can't wait...

aw
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pubrick on July 09, 2003, 08:38:30 AM
Quote from: petethis film is terrible.  it's like a lifetime movie with a lot of nudity.
sounds good to me.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on July 09, 2003, 10:30:33 AM
Quote from: peteit's like a lifetime movie with a lot of nudity.

Isn't that like an oxymoron?


Nick
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Sleuth on July 09, 2003, 08:18:18 PM
Quote from: TheVoiceOfNick
Quote from: peteit's like a lifetime movie with a lot of nudity.

Isn't that like an oxymoron?


Nick

maybe if it was your lifetime
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: pete on July 09, 2003, 09:17:44 PM
oh snap, oh hi-five, oh no he didn't!  he was like, you're a virgin!
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Sleuth on July 09, 2003, 09:20:28 PM
But dude, I was only kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Ghostboy on July 13, 2003, 07:27:49 PM
I just got back from it; it was sort of okay, but if you're in the mood for a lot of nudity, this is your ticket! It's more of an afterthought, compared to Ozon's other films, but it has it's good points (including the nudity). It reminded me, in its twists and turns, of Julio Medem's 'Sex & Lucia,' only far more sedated (for better of worse).

Ludivine Sagnier is quite attractive (and bears a striking resemblance here to Christina Aguilera), but judging from '8 Women,' I had thought she was really young and had very rapidly matured between that film and this one. Turns out she's actually twenty four.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: jokerspath on July 14, 2003, 09:20:01 AM
Quote from: GhostboyI just got back from it; it was sort of okay, but if you're in the mood for a lot of nudity, this is your ticket! It's more of an afterthought, compared to Ozon's other films, but it has it's good points (including the nudity). It reminded me, in its twists and turns, of Julio Medem's 'Sex & Lucia,' only far more sedated (for better of worse).

Ludivine Sagnier is quite attractive (and bears a striking resemblance here to Christina Aguilera), but judging from '8 Women,' I had thought she was really young and had very rapidly matured between that film and this one. Turns out she's actually twenty four.

Just saw it as well.  I'm not sure if I feel strongly enough about it either way to give an informed opinion.  I did enjoy a good amount of the photography, as well as the nudity, which was many and plentiful!

aw
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: pete on July 14, 2003, 09:36:48 AM
you didn't see it at the kendall did you?  'cause I've got this godlike ability over there of ripping movie tickets as well as letting people in.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: jokerspath on July 14, 2003, 09:48:47 AM
Quote from: peteyou didn't see it at the kendall did you?  'cause I've got this godlike ability over there of ripping movie tickets as well as letting people in.

No, Copley.  But I'm a frequenter of Kendall.  This sounds like a job for PM!

aw
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: filmcritic on July 14, 2003, 10:43:55 AM
I heard that it had a lot of nudity, but I also heard it had a lot of really strong sexual content. Is that true?
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: pete on July 14, 2003, 10:49:20 AM
everything you heard is true.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: filmcritic on July 14, 2003, 10:58:26 AM
I'll be traveling to New York and I'll see it there.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Sal on July 15, 2003, 03:39:51 PM
Saw it last night, and really dug it, save for the ending.  I don't like those kinds of endings.  I had the same problem with Man On The Train.  Both films, while brilliantly yet simply composed, have endings that not only feel out of place to the rest of the narrative, but seem tacked on to elevate things at the last minute.  IMHO, such endings are fine for films which are fairly ambigious throughout, but not ones which carry simple narratives and should therefore have simple but effective endings.  It's a minor gripe though.  I loved both films dearly.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on July 18, 2003, 01:33:06 AM
I saw this movie a couple of nights ago... it has A LOT (read: a lot!) of nudity in it... including "aahh huh huh huh... an old naked chick"... there are lots of sex scenes in it too...

POSSIBLE SPOILER:

It also has an interesting twist at the end that leaves you thinking "what the fuck?"... i was confuseled but then eventually got it a few minutes later... i guess they want people to see it twice... hrm...


Nick
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: ono on July 26, 2003, 05:43:55 PM
Just got back from this film.  It was really bad.  From the get-go, the protagonist was an unlikable old bag, but the young girl, Julie, wasn't too great a person either.  Then things just kept on getting worse and worse as you find reasons to dislike both of them more.  The final act descended into slapstick, hyperbole, and melodrama ("I did it for you!  For your book!"  :roll: ).  The ending felt tacked on, and an attempt to be cute, clever, deep, or mysterious.  Its only redeeming qualities were one witty line at the beginning: "Awards are like hemmorhoids: eventually every asshole gets one," and the abundant, free-spirited nudity and sexual content.

Swimming Pool: *½ (4/10).
Ludivine Sagnier's breasts: ****+ (10/10)
That averages out to a *** (7/10), which is where I guess Ebert and Berardinelli both got their evaluations from.  Somehow, if it didn't have as much T & A, I don't think people would like it as much.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Cecil on July 26, 2003, 05:54:51 PM
there wasnt THAT much nudity.

i enjoyed the film, felt a bit uneven. when it started i was thinking "hm, this is a different direction for ozon," then near the end it suddenly became more like something id expect from him. but anyway
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on July 28, 2003, 03:13:56 PM
Quote from: Cecil B. Dementedthere wasnt THAT much nudity.

i enjoyed the film, felt a bit uneven. when it started i was thinking "hm, this is a different direction for ozon," then near the end it suddenly became more like something id expect from him. but anyway

You thought it didn't have that much nudity? You probably thought deepthroat didn't either then... in fact it should have been PG, huh?  :P

Nick
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Cecil on July 28, 2003, 03:22:39 PM
one day, ill show you all what REAL extensive graphic nudity is.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Ravi on July 28, 2003, 04:02:22 PM
Quote from: Cecil B. Dementedone day, ill show you all what REAL extensive graphic nudity is.

Do you know what day?  I don't want to miss it.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Cecil on July 28, 2003, 05:18:36 PM
that day may never come. unless you all put up a budget for me
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on July 29, 2003, 10:19:02 AM
Quote from: Cecil B. Dementedthat day may never come. unless you all put up a budget for me

Ooh, Ooh! I donate $5 to that cause!

Nick
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: filmcritic on July 29, 2003, 11:00:46 AM
Very good movie! Anyone have theories on the ending?
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Ghostboy on July 29, 2003, 11:12:02 AM
I think the ending is pretty clear once you think about it for five minutes...not too many variables to worry about in this case. SPOILERS!!!! The Ludivinie Sagnier version of the daughter never existed beyond Rampling's imagination/novel. END SPOILERS.

Cecil, I too donate five dollars to your nudity movie.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on July 29, 2003, 11:13:06 AM
Quote from: filmcriticVery good movie! Anyone have theories on the ending?

SPOILERS

Yeah... it sucked... I hate it when endings are a big sham... like give me some reality... don't make me sit there for 2 hours then tell me that what i just watched didn't really happen!

Nick
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: filmcritic on July 29, 2003, 11:17:16 AM
That's what I thought. SPOILER - But I heard one person claim that Ludivinie Sagnier's dead mother possessed Rampling's mind and she began seeing her through the daughter. The mother was suppose to be sexually active and wild like Sagnier appeared to be. I don't know.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pwaybloe on August 06, 2003, 12:27:42 PM
For those who liked this movie as much as I did, I found the most concise explanation to the ending.  You might as well just leave now if you haven't seen the movie.

(SPOILERS)

"The way I began to think about this film to find the meaning is in the way the people did or did not react. So...

Let's start at the beginning. Sarah, as we all know, goes to her publisher because she is having a hard time writing her next novel. The publisher says she should stay in his house in France to get away from everything. When she asks if he'll come to visit, he mentions that he can't except for maybe a weekend because of his daughter. This is key point number one.

Key point number two is the fact that when she first talks to the publisher from the house, she mentions that she has had this idea that has gotten ahold of her and she can't let go. What is she talking about? The daughter. When the publisher mentions his daughter, this sparks an idea in Sarah's mind since she had no idea that the daughter even existed. This fact is evident in the end when she mentions that there were things she did not know about the publisher (i.e. his daughter.)

So next scene after Sarah mentions that she has this idea, the novel completely takes over. In other words, what the audience sees is what Sarah is writing for her novel. Now to fully understand, I believe that the story of the novel has to be explained. The story of the novel is based upon Sarah's experience combined with the made up story of the daughter. SO Sarah's novel is about a crime/mystery writer who goes to a French retreat to gain inspiration, but is then disturbed with the arrival of her publisher's daughter. All things unravel and the writer within the story of the novel begins to get inspiration from the daughter and begins basing what she is writing upon her and her experiences. That is why she steals the diary. Everything and events happen (I don't need to write out the whole movie for you) until the end. The novel ends when the writer gets the mother's old manuscript. Julie in a voice over mentions that she hopes the writer can bring her mother back to life. So the end of the novel would be that the writer drops what she is writing (especially since it can be used as evidence against Julie) and rewrites the mother's manuscript to gain revenge and to fullfill Julie's wishes.

WOOH! Only a little bit more to go.

Now the reason why the scene in the publisher's office at the end is reality is because of two reasons. One, because the novel is called Swimming Pool, not whatever the mother's book was called. And two, because the publisher does not react in a way that what he read is actually true. Don't you think he would have mentioned something about the Mother or the book that the motehr wrote? Or even more... something about his daughter?

Then, there is the very end. When Sarah walks out of the office she walks past Julia (the publishers actual daughter.) BUT... Julia does not act as though she knows Sarah. Which means this is their first time crossing. Besides that, Sarah stands at the window in the door and watches Julia. So what the end means in the waving scene is that Sarah was jsut thinking about her book and was now able to put a face to what had inspired her story.

There, I think that's it. There may be more later, and if you read all that, well, I thank you."
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: jokerspath on August 06, 2003, 02:15:22 PM
Wait a second.  So did Lardass have to pay to get into the contest??

aw
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Sal on August 06, 2003, 10:37:55 PM
And then what happened?
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: jokerspath on August 07, 2003, 07:12:19 AM
But really, I do appreciate the post...

aw
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Gold Trumpet on September 02, 2003, 04:09:37 PM
With the ending, I thought the movie ended it on the wrong way of being ambiguous. It became the Sixth Sense and a mere puzzle of when things shifted from real to fiction and so forth. I'm not even going to comment on the rest. This isn't that kind of movie. You can look at the end and ask yourself how intrigued you are. I don't believe the movie was acting to stands on its own feet with the entire film, but an ending. The kind of ending you don't reveal, an ending that is all too revealing in weakness with the script.

~rougerum
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Newtron on October 05, 2003, 09:18:13 AM
Quote from: PawbloeFor those who liked this movie as much as I did, I found the most concise explanation to the ending.  You might as well just leave now if you haven't seen the movie.

(SPOILERS)

"The way I began to think about this film to find the meaning is in the way the people did or did not react. So...

Let's start at the beginning. Sarah, as we all know, goes to her publisher because she is having a hard time writing her next novel. The publisher says she should stay in his house in France to get away from everything. When she asks if he'll come to visit, he mentions that he can't except for maybe a weekend because of his daughter. This is key point number one.

Key point number two is the fact that when she first talks to the publisher from the house, she mentions that she has had this idea that has gotten ahold of her and she can't let go. What is she talking about? The daughter. When the publisher mentions his daughter, this sparks an idea in Sarah's mind since she had no idea that the daughter even existed. This fact is evident in the end when she mentions that there were things she did not know about the publisher (i.e. his daughter.)

So next scene after Sarah mentions that she has this idea, the novel completely takes over. In other words, what the audience sees is what Sarah is writing for her novel. Now to fully understand, I believe that the story of the novel has to be explained. The story of the novel is based upon Sarah's experience combined with the made up story of the daughter. SO Sarah's novel is about a crime/mystery writer who goes to a French retreat to gain inspiration, but is then disturbed with the arrival of her publisher's daughter. All things unravel and the writer within the story of the novel begins to get inspiration from the daughter and begins basing what she is writing upon her and her experiences. That is why she steals the diary. Everything and events happen (I don't need to write out the whole movie for you) until the end. The novel ends when the writer gets the mother's old manuscript. Julie in a voice over mentions that she hopes the writer can bring her mother back to life. So the end of the novel would be that the writer drops what she is writing (especially since it can be used as evidence against Julie) and rewrites the mother's manuscript to gain revenge and to fullfill Julie's wishes.

WOOH! Only a little bit more to go.

Now the reason why the scene in the publisher's office at the end is reality is because of two reasons. One, because the novel is called Swimming Pool, not whatever the mother's book was called. And two, because the publisher does not react in a way that what he read is actually true. Don't you think he would have mentioned something about the Mother or the book that the motehr wrote? Or even more... something about his daughter?

Then, there is the very end. When Sarah walks out of the office she walks past Julia (the publishers actual daughter.) BUT... Julia does not act as though she knows Sarah. Which means this is their first time crossing. Besides that, Sarah stands at the window in the door and watches Julia. So what the end means in the waving scene is that Sarah was jsut thinking about her book and was now able to put a face to what had inspired her story.

There, I think that's it. There may be more later, and if you read all that, well, I thank you."
I'm a bit late. This is all true. Very good.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: SHAFTR on November 16, 2003, 02:15:34 AM
Quote from: Newtron
Quote from: PawbloeFor those who liked this movie as much as I did, I found the most concise explanation to the ending.  You might as well just leave now if you haven't seen the movie.

(SPOILERS)

"The way I began to think about this film to find the meaning is in the way the people did or did not react. So...

Let's start at the beginning. Sarah, as we all know, goes to her publisher because she is having a hard time writing her next novel. The publisher says she should stay in his house in France to get away from everything. When she asks if he'll come to visit, he mentions that he can't except for maybe a weekend because of his daughter. This is key point number one.

Key point number two is the fact that when she first talks to the publisher from the house, she mentions that she has had this idea that has gotten ahold of her and she can't let go. What is she talking about? The daughter. When the publisher mentions his daughter, this sparks an idea in Sarah's mind since she had no idea that the daughter even existed. This fact is evident in the end when she mentions that there were things she did not know about the publisher (i.e. his daughter.)

So next scene after Sarah mentions that she has this idea, the novel completely takes over. In other words, what the audience sees is what Sarah is writing for her novel. Now to fully understand, I believe that the story of the novel has to be explained. The story of the novel is based upon Sarah's experience combined with the made up story of the daughter. SO Sarah's novel is about a crime/mystery writer who goes to a French retreat to gain inspiration, but is then disturbed with the arrival of her publisher's daughter. All things unravel and the writer within the story of the novel begins to get inspiration from the daughter and begins basing what she is writing upon her and her experiences. That is why she steals the diary. Everything and events happen (I don't need to write out the whole movie for you) until the end. The novel ends when the writer gets the mother's old manuscript. Julie in a voice over mentions that she hopes the writer can bring her mother back to life. So the end of the novel would be that the writer drops what she is writing (especially since it can be used as evidence against Julie) and rewrites the mother's manuscript to gain revenge and to fullfill Julie's wishes.

WOOH! Only a little bit more to go.

Now the reason why the scene in the publisher's office at the end is reality is because of two reasons. One, because the novel is called Swimming Pool, not whatever the mother's book was called. And two, because the publisher does not react in a way that what he read is actually true. Don't you think he would have mentioned something about the Mother or the book that the motehr wrote? Or even more... something about his daughter?

Then, there is the very end. When Sarah walks out of the office she walks past Julia (the publishers actual daughter.) BUT... Julia does not act as though she knows Sarah. Which means this is their first time crossing. Besides that, Sarah stands at the window in the door and watches Julia. So what the end means in the waving scene is that Sarah was jsut thinking about her book and was now able to put a face to what had inspired her story.

There, I think that's it. There may be more later, and if you read all that, well, I thank you."
I'm a bit late. This is all true. Very good.

I'm a bit late as well.  The above post really helped me out piece everything together.  I enjoyed the film, but I couldn't figure out why. The above post let me see written out what I was attempting to put together.  I thought both the lead performances were great.  Ludivinie Sagnier was stunning, the less amount of clothes she wore the better she looked (which I feel is often the opposite).  The first 2 acts I really dug, the 3rd act not so much and the ending I enjoyed.  After reading the above post I think I can enjoy the 3rd act more so.  I really need to see it again.  Probably in this year's top 10 for me, but I'm not sure where.  It needs another viewing.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: MacGuffin on November 20, 2003, 11:29:38 AM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.digitalcity.com%2Fmff_takefive%2Ftopozon&hash=83a1b06494e6e71199a48b64edb2d4ab4dd04c8d)

In America, actresses are constantly starved for good roles, but overseas, François Ozon is single-handedly doing his part to give women their due. The Paris-born director put eight women to work in his last movie, the whodunit musical, 8 Women, and now he unveils Swimming Pool, a sultry little mystery he wrote especially for actress Charlotte Rampling, whose career he salvaged from obscurity in his celebrated psychodrama, Under the Sand.

In the grand Old-Hollywood tradition, the director elevates his leading ladies to pedestals, but in a twist entirely his own, Ozon also makes it very clear that his muses are always at risk of being unseated by the same erotic power that put them there in the first place. Each successive film sheds light on a different facet of the feminine mystique, and yet they are all characterized by the same trademark blend of the sinister and the sexual, not to mention an almost comic self-awareness that sometimes borders on camp.

Like America's own film-school brats, Ozon's style emerges from the filmmakers who preceded him (he studied cinema at France's celebrated national film academy, FEMIS). In trying to pinpoint his influences, critics have suggested directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Claude Chabrol and Roman Polanski, but it is Swedish director Ingmar Bergman whom Ozon admires most. Now, in his own words, find out which five films really inspire the rising French director.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persona
(1966; dir: Ingmar Bergman, starring: Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann)
I think Bergman is the most important director alive. His way of filming the two actresses, of showing the connections between them is fabulous and a big inspiration for me. I loved the closeups he used and his way of searching the female soul through their faces. When I began work on Under the Sand, I understood very quickly that I did not have to show a lot of events because the face and eyes of Charlotte Rampling were enough. I think that's something I learned from Bergman's movie. When you are in front of someone you admire, the camera can capture your desire, and with Charlotte I found that. It's the first time in one of my films that I really identified with the character. Usually, I keep a certain distance, but this time, I wanted to be very close to the character, maybe to be in her head. (In Swimming Pool, too, you are in the head of Charlotte Rampling, but it's not a film about emotions. It's more cerebral and intellectual.) I know Ingmar Bergman saw Under the Sand, and he loved the film, and I was very, very touched by that.

The Mirror Crack'd
(1980; dir: Guy Hamilton, starring: Angela Lansbury, Elizabeth Taylor)
When I was a child, I loved all the films adapted from Agatha Christie novels with their prestigious casts full of famous American actors each playing a small part. I love the whodunit, and I play on it with 8 Women, which is a film filled with references to the different kinds of movies I like, where the common point between all these films is the actresses and my pleasure filming them. There was one Agatha Christie movie that was a little bit stupid, but I liked it. It was a Miss Marple story called The Mirror Crack'd. It's full of bitchy dialogue between the actresses, because there's a rivalry between Kim Novak and Elizabeth Taylor. They were the beautiful women of the '50s and the '60s, but they are old, so it's funny to see. Rock Hudson has a part, and so does Tony Curtis, so it's an amazing cast. The direction is not great, but it has a good plot inspired by the life of Gene Tierney. I love popular culture and movies, too. I can love Bergman and a film adapted from Agatha Christie, it's not a problem for me.

Wait Until Dark
(1967; dir: Terence Young, starring: Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin)
There was a film with Audrey Hepburn where she played a blind woman who is alone in the night, and it was very, very frightening for me when I saw it as a child. I loved the last scene with the fridge. There is a man who is trying to kill her in her flat, and everything is dark, so she's his equal. Then he opens the fridge door and uses the light to find her. I love suspense, and I like to play with the audience. When I write the script, it's always important to ask, "Where is the audience at this moment? What do they think? What do they feel?" I think it's a lesson that comes from Hitchcock, who builds all his films on the link with the audience. It's like a game, but it can be perverse. In See the Sea, it's very perverse, because everybody knows that something could happen, but they don't know what. Sometimes the imagination of the audience is worse than the reality, and I like to play with what you want to see. For example, someone who saw Swimming Pool told me why he was sure the relationship between Ludivine and Charlotte would become a sexual relationship. He was so excited to see that, and I said to him, "I didn't have to show it because you imagine it better." Sometimes you don't have to give everything.

Vertigo
(1958; dir: Alfred Hitchcock, starring: Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novak)
Each time I see a Hitchcock film, there's such a pleasure in the mise en scène, in how he directs the actors. It's difficult to single out one film. Vertigo is a very strange movie. The first time I saw it, I hadn't picked up on the perversity of James Stewart with the second woman. Now I realize it is a film about how you are as a director with an actress, because you play puppets, you play dolls with actresses. I think it's a self-portrait about Hitchcock. I also love his exposition at the beginning of his films. He goes directly to the important things. I like the fact that you take the audience by the hand at the beginning, and say, "Come see my small story," and it begins like every film, and gradually you arrive in a different movie. I've learned a lot from his style of exposition. For example, I made a mistake with Criminal Lovers. The murder at the beginning of the film is too shocking. That's why I've made a new cut for the French DVD. You have to be with the audience at the beginning, to identify a bit with the situation, not to be aggressed.

Imitation of Life
(1959, dir: Douglas Sirk, starring: Lana Turner, John Gavin)
Douglas Sirk's Imitation of Life was very important for me. It's a very touching story about illusion and what we dream in life. There is something very artificial in the mise en scène, with the colors and characters. Everything is very expressive. Because it's a melodrama, you don't totally identify with the story -- it's a little bit overdone -- but you are still touched by the story. It's important for me to use all the characteristics in a movie to express what I want to express: the colors, the light, the sound. Everything is a way to say things. For me, dialogue is not very important. I prefer to film actions and to show the behaviors of the characters. It tells me more than when someone simply explains what he is doing. The audience is often cleverer than the characters, and they understand things more quickly. I use silence, too, because it gives you the possibility to think. Very often in films now, you have no time to think because the producers are afraid you will start to worry about your own problems and want to leave. For me, it's not a problem. That's why there's very often a distance in my films, because I don't want you to forget you're watching a film. It's not a reality, and you are encouraged to think to yourself.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pwaybloe on December 17, 2003, 09:32:22 AM
According to François Ozon's official website (http://www.francois-ozon.com/anglais/index2.html)...

The french DVD of Swimming Pool will be released on January 21, 2004 in 2 editions. The collector edition will have bonus features such as images from Cannes Film Festival, a poster gallery, deleted scenes commented by François Ozon...

SWIMMING POOL - Collector Edition 2 DVD (PAL)
* DVD French Release Date: January 21, 2004

• Encoding: Region 2 (France)  
• Color, Widescreen Enhanced for 16/9 TV
• Sound: English & French DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1
• Picture gallery (posters, making of...)
• French subtitles
• Trailers
• Deleted scenes with audio commentary by François Ozon (20 min)
• Cannes Press Conference (15 min)
• Images from Cannes Film Festival
• Interviews of Charlotte Rampling & Ludivine Sagnier


SWIMMING POOL - Unrated Version DVD (NTSC)
* DVD Release Date: January 13, 2004

* Encoding: Region 1
* Format: Color, Widescreen Anamorphic
* Sound: English & French DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1
* Deleted Scenes
* Theatrical Trailer


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Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: godardian on December 17, 2003, 06:47:31 PM
Yay! Definitely on my "to buy" list! (I have a number of Ozons in my collection: Water Drops on Burning Rocks, Under the Sand, and 8 Women).
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: modage on January 14, 2004, 12:10:29 AM
just saw this movie tonite (in an attempt to 'play catch up' with a few indie films of last year just to BE SURE i havent missed anything really worthwhile.)  but unfortunately i didnt like this either.  lifetime with nudity seems like an accurate description.  i was atleast with it for the first hour or so, but then it just went off into the ridiculous and i was just waiting for the end.  'julie' looked like the french equivalant of white trash, which made the nudity pretty unattractive.  (she is radiant as tinkerbell however!)  but, ozon is 0 for 2 for me, so i dont think i'll be giving him any more chances.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: godardian on January 14, 2004, 12:21:23 AM
Quote from: themodernage02just saw this movie tonite (in an attempt to 'play catch up' with a few indie films of last year just to BE SURE i havent missed anything really worthwhile.)  but unfortunately i didnt like this either.  lifetime with nudity seems like an accurate description.  i was atleast with it for the first hour or so, but then it just went off into the ridiculous and i was just waiting for the end.  'julie' looked like the french equivalant of white trash, which made the nudity pretty unattractive.  (she is radiant as tinkerbell however!)  but, ozon is 0 for 2 for me, so i dont think i'll be giving him any more chances.

For me, this film was about:

-The creative process (writing)

-The psyche

-Sexuality (or the psychosexual, whichever term one prefers)

-Aging

-Fantasy

-Projection

-Feeling trapped in one's skin/identity


For me, this film was not about:

-The degree to which the nudity contained therein was "attractive" or no.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pwaybloe on January 14, 2004, 08:33:47 AM
Quote from: godardianFor me, this film was about:

-The creative process (writing)

-The psyche

-Sexuality (or the psychosexual, whichever term one prefers)

-Aging

-Fantasy

-Projection

-Feeling trapped in one's skin/identity

I agree with you on all of these.  It's the ultimate mid-life crisis.  Mixing Sarah's own experiences and using the "fictional" Julie's experiences yields a book-worthy fantasy and revigorates her to go on.  It's a full circle.  

Quote from: godardian
For me, this film was not about:

-The degree to which the nudity contained therein was "attractive" or no.

Yeah, but even with your preference, you have to admit Julie had a hot body.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pas on January 14, 2004, 08:49:47 AM
Quote from: themodernage02just saw this movie tonite (in an attempt to 'play catch up' with a few indie films of last year just to BE SURE i havent missed anything really worthwhile.)  but unfortunately i didnt like this either.  lifetime with nudity seems like an accurate description.  i was atleast with it for the first hour or so, but then it just went off into the ridiculous and i was just waiting for the end.  'julie' looked like the french equivalant of white trash, which made the nudity pretty unattractive.  (she is radiant as tinkerbell however!)  but, ozon is 0 for 2 for me, so i dont think i'll be giving him any more chances.

I liked that movie a lot. I even found it somewhat (I repeat, somewhat) Lynchian sometimes, with the midget, the nudity and the twisted plot. I like Ozon a lot, he's a fresh breath in french cinema. But you say you "play catch up" with a few indie films, I don't think being foreign equals being indie. This movie is backed by Canal+ and France 2,  and I think it's a pretty big french production. I could be wrong, I don't know the definition of "indie film" but I don't think this is one. Correct me if you please.

And seriously, Ludivine Sagnier is a bomb.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: godardian on January 14, 2004, 10:15:28 AM
Quote from: Pawbloe

Quote from: godardian
For me, this film was not about:

-The degree to which the nudity contained therein was "attractive" or no.

Yeah, but even with your preference, you have to admit Julie had a hot body.


I would have actually thought so, too. But modernage didn't share this assessment, and I was just pointing out how it's not really an important factor; just because we may or may not think her particular kind of girl is attractive or not doesn't have much to do with the movie. The people in the movie obviously think she's quite attractive, and I think you can see why, even if you don't share that feeling. And that's all that really matters on that (small) point when it comes to analyzing/opining on the film.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pubrick on January 14, 2004, 10:47:02 AM
Quote from: Pas RapportI liked that movie a lot. I even found it somewhat (I repeat, somewhat) Lynchian sometimes, with the midget, the nudity and the twisted plot. I like Ozon a lot, he's a fresh breath in french cinema. But you say you "play catch up" with a few indie films, I don't think being foreign equals being indie. This movie is backed by Canal+ and France 2,  and I think it's a pretty big french production. I could be wrong, I don't know the definition of "indie film" but I don't think this is one. Correct me if you please.

And seriously, Ludivine Sagnier is a bomb.
you are not wrong.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: modage on January 14, 2004, 11:05:40 AM
i guess i mean 'arthouse', not 'indie' since thats where this film played in my neck of the woods.  and as far as the nudity not being attractive, i know that doesnt have any bearing on the plot, its just that in a lot of the other reviews on here i read, they were addressing the nudity as in 'i hated the movie, but the nudity made it worthwhile'.  i was simply trying to say 'i hated the movie, and the nudity didnt make it any more worthwhile'.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on January 14, 2004, 03:14:56 PM
I'm getting the DVD, but I hate that it won't have the Region 2 stuff... I just know that if/when it gets nominated for an award, it'll get a "awards edition" or something like that...
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Film Student on January 14, 2004, 08:25:59 PM
Saw this film over the summer and enjoyed it very much... definitely Lynchian, definitely a fun little mystery, definitely lots of Ludivine Sagnier undressed...
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on January 15, 2004, 10:44:03 AM
Reaction to Swimming Pool, categorized by age group:

6-11:  "Mommy, what are those things on that lady?  This is boring, mommy.  Read me a story... the one about the 3 bears."

12-15:  "Wow, did you see the bush on that chick?  I wish they'd add scenes like that to American Pie or Texas Chainsaw Massacre and not waste it on this boring shit!  What's up with showing that nasty old chick naked?  Yuck!"

16-19:  "The story was kinda slow, but you gotta love the titties in this movie!  They should have made more cuts like in that new Nelly video, and maybe had some more titties too!"

20-22:  "The style was definetly in the Hitchcock/Lynch spirit, especially the scenes of nudity.  I learned that in my film class, ya know.  This is definetly the movie i'd love to watch with my friends while drunk/high."

23-27:  "This is definetly Ozon's best work.  Sure, it reminds me of 8 Women a bit, but this has something more to it that puts it above the rest.  My friend and his wife came with my girlfriend and I to see it, and although the girls kept talking about the flaws in Julie's body, my friend and I couldn't help but notice the subtle relationship between the her and the old lady."

28-100:  Insert Roger Ebert Review Here
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Finn on January 15, 2004, 03:04:16 PM
I liked it a lot myself. It's a very sexy, intriguing movie with an Alfred Hitchcock twist to it. It's worth seeing more than once.

One question: what's the difference between the R rated and unrated versions?
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: SoNowThen on January 15, 2004, 03:09:10 PM
pubic hair, I'm guessing
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: godardian on January 15, 2004, 03:58:12 PM
Quote from: SydneyI liked it a lot myself. It's a very sexy, intriguing movie with an Alfred Hitchcock twist to it. It's worth seeing more than once.

One question: what's the difference between the R rated and unrated versions?

Yes, probably something like what SNT said- it's usually a few seconds or less of barely noticeable difference a la Dressed to Kill or American Psycho (with Eyes Wide Shut being a more extreme case, and we never even GOT an unrated version of that in N.A.!!).
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on January 15, 2004, 04:14:46 PM
So there's no word on whether a more fully-packed version will be released in the US?  I don't want to waste my money on a stripped down version when I know there's a better version in the works.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: godardian on January 15, 2004, 04:17:51 PM
Quote from: TheVoiceOfNickSo there's no word on whether a more fully-packed version will be released in the US?  I don't want to waste my money on a stripped down version when I know there's a better version in the works.

I haven't heard any "word," but I seriously doubt that they'll ever bother with a subsequent, additional DVD release of this particular film in the U.S. It was successful, but not nearly that successful.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: TheVoiceOfNick on January 15, 2004, 04:20:45 PM
Quote from: godardianI haven't heard any "word," but I seriously doubt that they'll ever bother with a subsequent, additional DVD release of this particular film in the U.S. It was successful, but not nearly that successful.

In other words, no one but us film geeks even care that it was even released here... hehe... that's why it's MSRP is higher than most other DVDs to begin with... it's a niche product.  Good point.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pwaybloe on January 15, 2004, 04:23:47 PM
Quote from: godardian
I haven't heard any "word," but I seriously doubt that they'll ever bother with a subsequent, additional DVD release of this particular film in the U.S. It was successful, but not nearly that successful.

Right.  There's no way they are going to re-release this one, unless it gets picked up by another distributor.  Even if that happened it would be a long shot.  If hell froze over, then I might say maybe...MAYBE.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Gamblour. on January 17, 2004, 12:15:04 AM
God, this movie was terrible. Skinemax/Showtime quality at the most. I can't believe people are actually trashing the names of Lynch and Hitchcock by saying the ending or twist resembles one of their own. The dialogue was horrible (that line about assholes is so old), but that ending, wow. So unnecessary, so fucking uninspired.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pas on January 17, 2004, 10:57:03 AM
Are you guys seeing a dubbed version ? Hope not...
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: smash on January 17, 2004, 11:30:04 AM
Quote from: TheVoiceOfNickReaction to Swimming Pool, categorized by age group:
16-19:  "The story was kinda slow, but you gotta love the titties in this movie!  They should have made more cuts like in that new Nelly video, and maybe had some more titties too!"
Ouch.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: NEON MERCURY on January 26, 2004, 07:52:55 PM
::the water is much warmer here::



..i have only seen swimming pool .....i liked it...........but i need some help...

SPOILERS


...the ending of swimming pool ....???? what the phuck does it mean...

is it :

a.) sarah made her up in the mold of ludivine.....and she actually was the ugly gril w/ braces

b.) doesn't mean annything and it is just their for "dramatic purposes"...

c.) ____________________________________.....__________________..


btw...if the correct answer is "a"...then why did the daughter not reconize sarah at the end of the film in the publisher's office.......
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: godardian on January 26, 2004, 08:20:50 PM
Quote from: NEON MERCURY::the water is much warmer here::



..i have only seen swimming pool .....i liked it...........but i need some help...

SPOILERS


...the ending of swimming pool ....???? what the phuck does it mean...

is it :

a.) sarah made her up in the mold of ludivine.....and she actually was the ugly gril w/ braces

b.) doesn't mean annything and it is just their for "dramatic purposes"...

c.) ____________________________________.....__________________..


btw...if the correct answer is "a"...then why did the daughter not reconize sarah at the end of the film in the publisher's office.......

Take a and extend it just that little extra bit further, and your question is answered.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Pubrick on January 26, 2004, 11:47:46 PM
NEON, read page three of this thread.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: MacGuffin on February 08, 2004, 04:46:44 PM
I was with this film at the beginning. It was a wonderful relationship between the writer and the daughter, how the writer was repulsed, yet fascinated by the young girl's lifestyle. And as they became friends, it turned into a nice relationship to watch. But then, around the last half hour, the characters started to do things I didn't believe they would do, and that's when my suspicions about what the twist ending was was confirmed. It turned into a mystery/thriller and really felt out of place with the rest of the film.

As for the nudity, it seemed very gratuitous and was better served when it made Sarah uncomfortable and served the story in that way.
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Kal on March 18, 2004, 12:54:04 AM
I didnt like the ending... I didnt understand it at first... now I do... and I dont like it... I think the movie was great as it was without that twist
Title: Swimming Pool
Post by: Alexandro on March 24, 2004, 06:13:44 PM
I thought the movie was really cool...

I enjoyed all the way through and then, with the twist ending it just made me smile...it happens a lot in life that you are living a certain situation and you start to imagine really twisted circumstances that could take place and sometimes that becomes short stories or something...I like that...in the end, the movie is about writing...and it's fun...and ludivine is naked...