shakercoola A sumptuous idyll in the South of France. Still air. Full Mediterranean sun. One pool. Two lovers. Two guests - one, an old acquaintance to one and a former lover to another, the other his daughter, a mystery to all. The rest is a well controlled drama of hedonism, sensuality, eroticism, sexual longing, anxiety and unfulfillment. Compacted these all lead to a weakness for one and their dastardly deed. A film so slow moving, and as enervating as the heat of the sun over the villa, could easily be hard viewing. But, the camera loves these beautiful chic people and the intrigue they create.

Claudio Carvalho The failing writer Jean-Paul (Alain Delon) and his lover Marianne (Romy Schneider) are together for more than two years and spending vacation in a mansion in Saint-Tropez that belongs to a friend of them. They spend most of the time in the swimming pool that is the main attraction of the real estate. Jean-Paul is an insecure man and tried to commit suicide because of the reviews of his last novel but now is recovered. When the successful composer Harry (Maurice Ronet), who had been Marianne's lover for four years, calls her and tells that he is passing by Saint-Tropez with his teenage daughter Pénélope (Jane Birkin), she invites them to come to the mansion to stay with Jean-Paul and her. Soon Harry woos Marianne trying to rekindle their former relationship and there is a tension in the house. Jean-Paul does not react and seduces Pénélope instead that discloses the true feelings of Harry towards him. One night, Harry comes late night drunken and argues with Jean-Paul, telling that he is a loser. However he falls in the swimming pool and Jean-Paul does not let him leave the water. Harry is drowned by Jean-Paul that forges a situation indicating that Harry has accidentally died. However the smart Inspector Lévêque (Paul Crauchet) does not buy the evidences of accident. What will happen to Jean-Paul? "La Piscine" is a movie with a simple, sensual and tense story with a sexy beginning. Romy Schneider is among the most beautiful women in the world and her eyes, her face and her body mesmerize any male viewer. The characters are not well developed and keep a mystery of their true intentions, leaving to the viewer's interpretation. The cinematography is bright like the weather in Saint-Tropez, and the beauty and the eyes of Romy Schneider, Jane Birkin and Alain Delon are highlighted by the camera. The most impressive is that this movie has not aged after almost fifty years. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "A Piscina" ("The Swimming Pool")Note: On 28 January 2017, I saw this film again.

writers_reign Almost inevitably this movie is destined to be compared to The Swimming Pool, which was released some 34 years later. Actually there is no comparison given that Deray's movie is light years ahead of Ozon's. In Ozon's defense he was lumbered with Charlotte Rampling and Ludo Savignier whilst Deray was blessed with Romy Schneider and also had on hand the classiest actor in either movie, Paul Crauchet. It's touching that with police force in Marseilles, inundated as they are by organized crime, gang wars (in fact Deray's very next film, again featuring Alain Delon, was Borsalino), drug cartels, prostitution etc, are quite happy to devote so many man hours to investigating the only slightly suspicious death of one of the rich parasites who come down to the Riviera for a month or so and contribute virtually nothing to either the economy or culture of the region. Because the investigator is played by Paul Crauchet the sequences involving him add gravitas to the last three or four reels. I had never seen it before but it appears to have aged well, more, I suspect, than one will be able to say of the Ozon entry in thirty years time.

vostf La Piscine stands out the atmosphere of a quiet summer vacation in Saint-Tropez, that is away from all the tourists and partying. A dull vacation? Not for the happy ones who can be content with "love and fresh water" (as we say in French). That's the starting point. The opening shots establishing this are probably the best part of the movie. Yes, once in a while the first reel contact is not on a part with the rest.The first time I saw it, La Piscine left me with a good impression. The atmosphere was sufficient for my pleasure, the whole plot consistent and above all you felt on holiday with the characters. Now on second viewing you can't but feel sorry for Delon as Romy Schneider and Maurice Ronet clearly are in charge there. Even with the sometimes (very) weak lines they shine. On second viewing you also notice that the furniture in the house are ugly, that the director does a poor job (ah those awful zoom shots and unnecessarily moving camera...).On the whole it could have been quite a bit better. Still worth watching for the opening scene, Romy, Maurice Ronet, and Romy again.