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The Swimming Pool
La Piscine
1969 123 min France, Italy PG 16+
★7.6
Drama, Thriller
Director: Jacques Deray
Trailers
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Description
Set in a magnificent villa near a sun-drenched St. Tropez, lovers Jean-Paul and Marianne are spending a happy, lazy summer holiday. Their only concern is to gratify their mutual passion - until the day when Marianne invites her former lover and his beautiful teenage daughter to spend a few days with them. From the first moment, a certain uneasiness and tension begin to develop between the four, which soon escalates in a dangerous love-game.
US Gross:
$211,467
Starring
Alain Delon
Actor
Romy Schneider
Actor
Maurice Ronet
Actor
Key opinion
La Piscine is widely regarded as a visually arresting, atmospheric exploration of jealousy and desire, anchored by the iconic performances of its leads. While fans of slow-burn European cinema praise its meditative pace and aesthetic, detractors find the narrative stagnant and the plot shallow.
| Acting | The chemistry and physical presence of Alain Delon and Romy Schneider create a hypnotic, career-defining aesthetic experience. | |
| Production | Jacques Deray’s meticulous focus on interior design, color palettes, and the poolside setting creates a tangible, immersive atmosphere. | |
| Score | Michel Legrand’s score effectively complements the film's simmering tension and the oppressive heat of the setting. | |
| Pacing | The film’s slow, contemplative pace rewards those seeking an atmospheric psychological study, while leaving viewers expecting traditional thriller momentum feeling bored or frustrated. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some admire the minimalist, subtext-heavy dialogue, while others criticize the plot as unoriginal, hollow, or overly reliant on the stars' charisma. | |
| Ending | The ending is polarized, viewed by some as an inevitable, poignant conclusion to the psychological tension, while others dismiss it as an absurd or underwhelming resolution. |