Swimming Pool

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Swimming Pool

R

Released Jul 2, 2003

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

154 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When uptight British writer Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) has difficulty with her new detective novel, her publisher, John Bosload (Charles Dance), sends her to his French country home to unwind. Once Sarah warms up to her new surroundings, her peace and quiet is interrupted by the arrival of Bosload's daughter, Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), a beautiful, uninhibited young woman. Though the two clash, they eventually form an unlikely bond -- one that is strained when things take a dramatic turn.

Critics Consensus

A sensual thriller with two engaging performers demanding our undivided attention.

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Keith Uhlich

ToxicUniverse.com

[Ozon] treats his actresses like ruined objets d'art, fallen older goddesses (or corruptible youthful ones) who are just grist for his pop cultural mill.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 30, 2003

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

Ozon simultaneously manages to make his film lazily sexual and crisply suspenseful.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 8, 2003

Full Review

Stephen Rebello

The Advocate

Swimming Pool is a perfectly good summer movie -- but here's hoping for something even bolder and more decisive from Ozon next time.

May 27, 2022

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Darren Frei

Out Magazine

Taut, charged, and haunting.

May 27, 2022

Full Review

PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

A classy, frothy little thriller which isn't intended to be taken too much at face value as any kind of rigorous treatise on writing or the idea of the unreliable narrator.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 31, 2019

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Gary W

Stylish, erotic drama that has two amazing lead actresses in Charlotte Rampling & Ludvine Sagnier, great cinematography, an extremely well written script & the usual directorial finesse of Froncois Ozon. Lots of nudity & sex scenes, so not for the easily offended & you even get a Charles Dance cameo for good measure. Reviewed from a US import DVD so not sure if the UK version is edited.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/25/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 42 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

M7AMD A

first of all how is this movie has above average rating!. the story is just plain and not interesting the characters are dull, i felt like im watching a teenage film from Netflix, i was patient and hoped the movie would get better at the end but i couldn't wait i was getting bored of this mainly fillers and skipped forward and i am very thankful i did because the ending was really dumb. i regret i wasted my time watching this terrible movie, so my final score is 1/10 strongly not recommended, one of the worst movies I've watched this year.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

daniel n

This mysterious and sensual thriller with a pleasantly slow pace will keep you captivated from beginning till end leaving you confused about what was fiction and what was reality.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Feels like an artsy erotica without any other point, especially due to the controversial ending

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

It never reveals more than it wants to at any time. The ending comes as a surprise, but actually is totally in step with the rest of the movie. Outstanding film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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François Ozon

Director

Charlotte Rampling

Sarah Morton

Ludivine Sagnier

Julie

Charles Dance

John Bosload

Marc Fayolle

Marcel

Jean-Marie Lamour

Franck

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Synopsis

When uptight British writer Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) has difficulty with her new detective novel, her publisher, John Bosload (Charles Dance), sends her to his French country home to unwind. Once Sarah warms up to her new surroundings, her peace and quiet is interrupted by the arrival of Bosload's daughter, Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), a beautiful, uninhibited young woman. Though the two clash, they eventually form an unlikely bond -- one that is strained when things take a dramatic turn.

Director: François Ozon
Producer: Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonnier
Screenwriter: François Ozon, Emmanuèle Bernheim
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Le Studio Canal +, France 2 Cinema
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Some Drug Use|Some Violence|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 2, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)