After a boisterous party Julie leaves behind unwrapped fois gras, half-finished bottles of liquor, half-smoked joints in and out of ashtrays, and a few men. Sarah seems to have forgotten ages ago how to have fun, despite her claim that she has been with the hippest crowd of London. I refrain from interpreting the symbols for you, but watching Julie dive naked in and out of the murky pool waters make me feel like swimming. However, Sarah's fastidious glances wake up a squeamish old maid in me. Both women are talented actresses and even for fear of being ridiculed by some macho types here, I"ll admit I could relate. Julie and Sarah are really archetypal figures. We all have secret selves. Does Sarah's inner free spirit intimidate her? Is Julie protecting a hurt little girl? I"ll leave it for you to decide along with the importance of liberating these hidden selves. The validity of the notion is up to an individual. The fad to "open the mind" has been around a while now but I haven't noticed that the world had become any better for it. The characters in the "Swimming Pool" are polar opposites and a cosmic change must take place before one person can take on qualities of another without giving up individuality. Charlotte Rampling's signature icon-like gaze penetrates your soul and you can do nothing to hide from it. She knows exactly what is going on in your mind, and you will likely find the sensation unpleasant at times. Her stare emanates from inside; after all, that is where the real life takes place with her character. Ludvine Sagnier, on the other hand, boasts transparent lapis-lazuli eyes. They see through you and barely notice your presence. To her the world is merely a huge, exciting playground. Don't burden yourself with impossible choices. Neither woman is better than the other. .
We can't do without those who insist upon comparing any unusual film to the creations of David Lynch, but we should be more mature than to stereotype every film that features a dwarf or lesbian note as "Lynchian".
