Sex and drugs and rock `n roll. . . (and marriage?) play a big part in the 2015 dramatic thriller A Bigger Splash. A quasi-remake of the 1969 film La Piscine (which has another sort-of remake in François Ozon’s 2003 picture The Swimming Pool), which itself comes from a novel of the same name (written by Jean-Emmanuel Conil under the pseudonym Alain Page), this very European feature is set on the lovely Italian island of Pantelleria.
We first meet music icon Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton – a perfect turn as an androgynous David Bowie-like rock `n roller), who is recovering from throat surgery, and her documentary filmmaker husband Paul De Smedt (Matthias Schoenaerts) as they enjoy the reclusive island, finding love and recuperation in its serene, picturesque setting. As they are frolicking in the waters of a secluded lake, they receive a call from Paul’s kind-of best friend and Marianne’s former lover/record producer, Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes), who has tracked them down and invited himself for a visit. Director Luca Guadagnino both symbolically and literally interprets the rather rude interruption by having Harry’s incoming plane cast a long shadow and make a raucous noise just over their heads as they take the unexpected and unwanted call.
Soon, Harry is introducing them to his newly discovered daughter, Penelope Lannier (Dakota Johnson), a young girl on spring break. Hijacking their zen vacation, he starts to call the shots, taking them out for supper to a hillside restaurant that they were not planning on going to.
With nowhere to stay, Marianne, who is unable to use her voice for another two weeks (making her a kind of Marcel Marceau mime), gives her husband the look, and the father/daughter are invited to stay in their large rental home – against Paul’s wishes. What follows is a nearly unreadable next hour, as mind games, guilt, manipulation, chicanery and subterfuge are used by all of the players in one way or another. Other than Penelope, they know each other all too well, and we can tell that there are ulterior motives at play.
Much of their time is spent in and around the large swimming pool, their elevated surroundings providing a scrumptious view of the countryside. The quartet also enjoy all that the island has to offer: private lakes, nearby festivals, karaoke night, local bars and other such things.
An intriguing character study, each actor brings something very different to their persona. Marianne and Paul are a surprisingly domesticated couple for a rock star and filmmaker. Their life is quiet and tranquil, filled with intimate lovemaking and rest and relaxation. Marianne, though mostly mute, speaks loudly through her expressive eyes and telling movements. She is torn, in love with her husband, but also holds a warm affection for her longtime friend, former fling and record producer. She has a solid head on her shoulders, an aging icon who has learned from past errors and is now living a purer life so as to enjoy an extended longevity in the public eye. The younger Paul is more sullen; though a one time amigo of Harry’s, it seems like something has gone from their bond, and he is now just tolerating the man. With a dark past, he in many ways exemplifies the tortured artist, keeping much of his pain bottled deep within. Harry is a giant ball of gaseous energy. He flits from here to there, moving like a hopped up Mick Jagger. He does not mince words, always speaking his mind and telling the truth. There is not a shy bone in his jaunty body; no filter that will stop him from saying or doing anything that comes to his moving a-mile-a-minute mind. One of the best moments finds him dancing and singing to The Rolling Stones’ “Emotional Rescue” – his slithery manoeuvres, expressive visage and overall performance is utterly mesmerizing and a whole lot of fun. Then there is Penelope – a lounging, seductive siren by the water. There is much hidden behind that sly, sultry face, in nearly every way, so different from her father. If he is a blunt instrument, she is more like Theodore Roosevelt – ‘speaks softly’, keeping things close to the vest. . . though hidden just out of sight, she ‘carries a big stick’. It’s funny, for all of the brouhaha made over Fifty Shades of Grey, the European artistry mixed with Johnson’s performance bring much more to the table, in a sensual, sexy way, than the above mentioned feature ever did.
Though all of this sounds like a rather fun vacation, Guadagnino adds a simmering suspense, always bubbling just below the crystal clear surface of the water. Idyllic yet claustrophobic, friendly yet interruptive, it seems like for every positive there is a dark shadow that also comes along for the windy ride. After all, love can quickly transition to other very different emotions and feelings, bringing forth jealousy, rage, anger and violence in an instance. Will relationships be wrecked? Will friendships hold true? Is truth being told?
A Bigger Splash has several other themes running through its veins. Celebrity plays a part, the ways in which people look to those who have had success in life, feeding off of even the slightest touch. Treated like gods, they get things that others wouldn’t, blinding otherwise observant individuals with their appealing aura. There is a sequence towards the very end of the movie that will most definitely highlight what I am getting at here.
Filmed in an intriguing way, Guadagnino utilizes jarring close-ups, unusual zooms, off-kilter edits and intoxicating transitions in a way that makes us feel a bit wary – there is something afoot in this seemingly civil vacation. There is a psychological aspect to the piece, much like an Alfred Hitchcock picture, or many other European master craftsmen of that era. After all, Johnson in some ways is reminiscent of the cool, closed off blondes The Master of Suspense was famous for using. The mirrored sunglasses adorning their faces also add a level of intoxicating mystery to the picture. In a metaphorical sense, so much of the plot revolves around what lies hidden beneath/behind the surface (water, sunglasses, eyes. . .)
With touches of modernity in the old-school tale (Tunisian refugees arriving daily), A Bigger Splash is a beautifully shot narrative that enlists four actors at the top of their game. . . a feast for the eyes. For those captivated by stunning locales, deep, meaningful performances, and talented direction, this one is definitely for you. Though the ending does not hit all of the right notes, it is still an intoxicating feature film. So, engulf yourself within this unique psychological thriller, it will make even the mute yell out its praise.