THE SWIMMING POOL

France, 1969, 120 minutes, Colour.
Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet, Jane Birkin.
Directed by Jacques Deray.

The Swimming Pool is a romantic thriller by Jacques Deray (the Borsalino films). It has a strong cast led by Alain Delon and Romy Schneider with Maurice Ronet and Jane Birkin in one of her earliest roles.

The film is set at a villa in the south of France during the summer, Delon and Schneider are lovers, Ronet visits with his teenage daughter. Reminders of past relationships arise, present tensions. There is Jealousy and envy and ultimately, violence. The film ends with an offbeat moral judgment.

The film is strongly atmospheric, has attractive settings - but takes its time in setting the atmosphere and in drawing the characters.

1. Interesting French thriller? Portrait of characters? Emotional tensions? Thriller? Police investigation?

2. Colour photography, the villa in the south of France? The focus on the villa, the focus on the swimming pool? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus? For the relationship between Jean-Paul? and Marianne? For Harry's death?

4. Jean-Paul? and Marianne, their relationship, the summer in the south of France, the languid scenes at the pool, their sexual relationship, love for each other? Life and leisure? The arrival of Harry? Jean-Paul's suspicions? Marianne and her detachment? The surprise of the daughter? The effect of the arrival on the couple? The relationship and ignoring Harry, puzzle about Penelope? Emilie and her serving?

5. The character of Jean-Paul?, Alain Delon's charm, background, friendship with Harry? Tension, the jealousy of Marianne and leaving her free? With Penelope, going to the beach? The jealousy of Harry, waiting up for him, the confrontation at the swimming pool, Harry's telling the truth, his trying to hit him, Jean-Paul? drowning him? Arranging the clothes? The police investigation? Ultimately telling the truth to Marianne, Penelope not believing him, Marianne shielding him? Their remaining in the villa? The protection of Marianne? For how long?

6. Marianne and her strength of character, love for Jean-Paul?, the relationship with Harry, allowing him to come, her belief in freedom? Relationship with Jean-Paul?, sensuality and sexuality? Practical, going to town? The shock of the death, the funeral, the police investigation, suspicions of Jean-Paul?, confronting him, deciding to cover up for him, seeing Penelope off? Staying with Jean-Paul?

7. Harry and his personality, reputation, his daughter, intruding on the holiday, creating tensions, socialising, bringing back the people for the party, going out with Marianne, telling the truth to Jean-Paul?, his drunkenness and cramp, his death?

8. Penelope, not knowing her father, awkwardness, at the villa, growing friendships, relationship with her father, the result of his death?

9. The maid, her serving, an outsider?

10. The police, their investigations, the suspicions, the inspector telling the scenario to Marianne? His keeping the options open?

11. Life in the south of France, leisure, summer, luxury, parties? Relationships? Violence?