Don't Go In The Deep End!
Charlotte
Rampling plays an uptight author in need of
relaxation, peace and quiet so she can rid
herself of writers-block. Her publisher sends
her to his beautiful French home, away from the
big city, surrounded by lush landscapes and
sporting back yard complete with a big swimming
pool.
It seems like the perfect medicine as she begins
to happily type away on her laptop, taking the
occasional break to head to the nearest village
for refreshments. The peaceful routine seems to
be doing her good until a young woman shows up
unexpectedly.
Ludivine Saignier blasts into this sedate world,
dripping of sex and arrogance. She is the
publisher's daughter and she takes complete
reign of the house and its swimming pool. Every
night, she brings home a new man to fuck on the
sofa. And 'fuck' is the right word here... this,
in no way, can be considered 'making love'. She
parades around topless and seems to revel in
making the middle-aged author uncomfortable.
After a few shrill conversations, the two of
them come to an understanding that they will
stay out of each other's hair. But, slowly, they
strike up a cordial dialogue and it graduates
into a friendship of sorts.
Ozon's film has a way of surprising you at every
turn and keeps the mysterious suspense at a low
boil for the bulk of the film. You'll never
really be sure where the film is going, a trait
which will keep you curious throughout. If there
is one complaint, it's that the film dangles the
carrot in front of us for a little too long. I
found myself saying, "Okay, I am intrigued...
now what?"
What transpires in the final few acts, I will
not reveal. But it did have me scratching my
head and left me thinking about the film for
hours. Perhaps, along with the stellar acting,
that was the best thing about the film... I
couldn't get it out of my head.
Rampling has been a force in cinema for years
and continues the great work here. She has a
cool restraint that simmers from within... you
can really tell that her character is churning
inside with ideas, with lust, with jealousy. She
does it with very little effort and outward
emotion... it is a great performance.
Saignier is equally powerful in an overt way.
Her character is very extraverted and brazen. It
is a role that could easily have ventured into
farce. But she does a marvelous job of shaking
up the screen with a delicious example of French
attitude. It is a brave performance too. She is
virtually naked for one-third of the film... a
fact that makes the price of admission
worthwhile even if you don't like the movie.
This is an odd little film that will sneak its
way into your brain and won't let go. It will
probably take multiple viewings to completely
compartmentalize and understand everything that
transpires. I recommend this film to those who
want a brain-workout.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
Perhaps,
as TC implies, I need multiple viewings to fully
embrace this film. Personally, I think he's
being too strongly influenced by the 1/3 of the
film during which Saignier is nude. For now,
I'll stick with the idea that this film is style
over substance. Admittedly, the style is
wonderful but by the end of the film it is also
somewhat tiresome.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
