Francois Ozon

[theapportioner]

I saw "Swimming Pool" last night. Hadn't realized it is out in theatres -- no wonder I couldn't find it at the video rental stores!

Have you read Arthur Lazare's review of the film on culturevulture.net? I'd like to know what you think of it. Maybe you should read it first, before reading my thoughts.

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This movie clashes Ozon's two distinct filmmaking tones -- Sarah Morton, in the beginning, is portrayed with a brutally honest, realistic, subtle mood. This is the tone of "Under the Sand". Julie on the other hand is like Ozon's "See the Sea" - a very stylized, sexy picture. The two distinct styles are a play on what Ozon regards as a thin line between truth and fiction, honesty and, well, illusion I guess. One is led to think that Sarah's mood is the "honest" one and Julie's is the "false" one and the ending destroys this impression. The movie does become plot driven later on, yes, and though I feel it does get weaker, on the whole I feel this shift from character study to plot is appropriate. I interpreted the ending of the film to be the complete marriage of reality and fantasy. In retrospect it was there from the beginning, but could not be fully realized until it shifts to plot. The tension between reality and fantasy is resolved, as Sarah befriends Julie, and once that happens the story (novel) can really begin as fantasy and reality merge.

So I disagree with Lazare that the ending was a total mistake -- I think the idea makes sense given what the director was trying to do. It could've been done better, and not so cliched I suppose, but oh well. Ozon is still a master when it comes to creating texture and mood. Sophia Coppola, while not a slouch, could still learn a lesson or two from his output.

Edit: Perhaps one could argue that the cliched ending is a nod to the cliche of murder mystery novels?