A French classic by the master of crime films Jacques Deray about a holiday murder, starring Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, and Jane Birkin.
Writer Jean-Paul and his girlfriend Marianne are spending the summer by the pool of a luxury villa in the south of France. Their idyllic holiday is interrupted by a call from Harry, Jean-Paul’s old friend who also used to be Marianne’s lover and who now wants to see the couple. The following day, Harry arrives at the villa with his daughter Penelope, whose youth and beauty excite Jean-Paul, making Marianne jealous. Harry and Marianne are drawn to each other, and Jean-Paul seduces Penelope. The fight that follows ends in a cold-blooded murder.
The blinding pool water, the bright outdoor furniture, and the minimalist and sensual outfits by André Courrèges—the key fashion designer of the 1960s—create a visual style that still feels fresh half a century after the film’s release. The same is true of the plot, which has already inspired two remakes: the Swimming Pool (2003) by François Ozon and the A Bigger Splash (2015) by Luca Guadagnino. Equally fascinating is the cast of Deray’s film, featuring a predatory Alain Delon, a mysterious Romy Schneider, a cavalier Maurice Ronet, and a watchful Jane Birkin—all as admirable today as they were then.
The film will be screened in French with Russian subtitles.
The Swimming Pool
Director: Jacques Deray
France, 1969. 123 min.
18+