In the opening scene of "Swimming Pool," the main character (played by Charlotte Rampling) tells someone, "I'm not the person you think I am." Likewise, this French psychological thriller isn't the movie you might think it is.
The print advertisements and posters boast pictures of co-star Ludivine Sagnier in various states of undress, which pretty much promises that it's a sleek, sexy thriller. And while sex does come into play, the film itself isn't really all that sexy.
"Swimming Pool" is a considerably different, less kinky thriller than you might imagine. But it is a well-acted film that examines the creative process in a fairly crafty manner.
However, the film does feel fairly exploitative — to say that the camera lingers awhile on the fully nude bodies of the film's two female leads is an understatement.
Rampling stars as Sarah Morton, an English mystery writer who's having a hard time coming up with an idea for her next book. So her publisher and sometime lover (Charles Dance) sends her to France, to spend some time at his country estate.
So far so good. At first. While Sarah finds the sunny French countryside to her liking, especially compared to rainy London, she also gets an unexpected visitor — John's nymphet daughter Julie (Sagnier).
The two women mix about as well as oil and water. While Sarah seeks peace and quiet, Julie seeks cheap thrills; she brings strange men back to the house almost every night. And when Sarah gets the notion to start asking questions about Julie, she finds her muse returning.
It's not really fair to say any more about the plot, except that it takes some unexpected turns. Just when you think it's going to zig, it zags, and then it zigs further. Director/co-screenwriter Francois Ozon ("8 Women") almost outfoxes himself, however, as the ending doesn't have as much punch as it should and feels a bit muddled.
Still, Ozon uses Rampling's characteristic aloofness to good effect. And Sagnier — who's already been anointed as the Next Big Thing in France — is quite a find. As Julie, she's alluring and surprisingly sympathetic.
"Swimming Pool" is rated R for full female and brief glimpses of full male nudity, scenes of simulated sex and other sex acts, simulated drug use (marijuana), scattered use of strong sex-related profanity, a brief scene of violence (a bludgeoning), crude sexual talk and use of crude slang terms, and brief gore. Running time: 102 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com