One of the leading French directors, Francois Ozon (‘Under the Sands’, ‘8 Femmes’), has made another provocative film for his first English language film, ‘Swimming Pool’.
Charlotte Rampling, the star of ‘Under the Sands’ plays the main role of Sarah, a successful English writer who is in need of new inspiration. Her publisher John gives her the keys to his holiday house in the south of France to unwind and work on new material.
Sarah straight away falls in love with her new home and the creative juices begin to stir. However her world is turned around when John’s uninhibited daughter, Julie, drops in to stay. There is a huge personality clash between the two women, Sarah is conservative and steely whilst Julia is reckless and promiscuous. Sarah is drawn to Julia’s strange ways, and soon finds her the subject for her new work.

There were many things to latch on to enjoy ‘Swimming Pool’. The sparring and battle of wills between Sarah and Julie….the chess like puzzle into the psyche of Julie as the movie unravels the dark, neglected childhood that has led her to behave so erratically, and the burning intensity of Charlotte Rampling. This was a story of darkness and redemption.