La Piscine (1969) - film review

An unemployed writer Jean-Paul lives with his lover Marianne in a luxury villa near to St Tropez.  Their languid summer break is disturbed by the arrival of Marianne’s former boyfriend, Harry, who turns up unexpectedly with his daughter Penelope.  Despite appearances that their past differences have been settled, old enmities between Jean-Paul and Harry soon begin to resurface – with deadly consequences…

A former real-life couple Alain Delon and Romy Schneider are re-united on screen in this compelling psychological drama, one of Jacques Deray’s best-known films.  The film revolves around a dangerous love triangle, with virtually all of the action taking place either in or by an outdoor swimming pool in a villa.  Whilst the plot is somewhat thin, a combination of sensual photography and great acting make it a film which is well worth seeing.

Alain Delon is on fine form, giving one of his darker performances, a perfect contrast with Romy Schneider’s gentler yet equally tough portrayal of Marianne.   Maurice Ronet and Jane Birkin complete the formidable menage à quatre, with Birkin’s young age and broken French making her character the most vulnerable and the most disturbing member of the ensemble.

Jacques Deray is probably better known for the detective thrillers he made in the 1970s and 1980s.  In La Piscine, the director shows a surprising artistic flair which is lacking in his later films.  With an almost existentialist minimalism, he creates a chilling portrait of male rivalry and jealousy.

© James Travers 2002

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