A Bigger Splash is a sensuous portrait of desire, jealousy and rock and roll. . But oh no, not right now. The first promo still of A Bigger Splash featuring Matthias Schoenaerts, Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson and Ralph Fiennes was released on 27 July 2015. Form battles content to an eerily pleasurable draw in "A Bigger Splash," a stylish four-hander set among the rich and the hip. A Bigger Splash: clip featuring Ralph Fiennes and Tilda Swinton, Jacques Derays 1969 psychological thriller La Piscine. And what's the point of annoying the audience so much they want to leave the cinema? Every fetishized element the glorious house, the tiled pool, Mariannes Dior outfits and the scrubbiest of vistas looks ravishing, ready for a close-up, too. Things get increasingly intense and sexual as the film goes along. Naughty Harry! He is in recovery from alcohol addiction and a suicide attempt. Setting operatic music to frivolity is one of the most questionable decisions in the film until you realise that its meant as a reference to its source. Tensions brew. Some superbly juxtaposed wordless scenes take us from Mariannes former life to her current situation and finally explain why they are happening in almost complete silence. Also starring Aurore Clment as Mireille, Lily McMenamy as Sylvie, Elena Bucci as Clara and Salvatore Gabriele as Mayor. "A Bigger Splash" is the title of a David Hockney painting from 1967an ejaculatory shot of white on the surface of a calm California pool. . Bigger is Not Better: A Watered Down Version of "La Piscine". Mr. Guadagnino may be actually trying to assuage his conscience (or ours), as if to do penance for all this careless opulence. Then, they turn a corner and stroll down Str. Giving the setting of the movie that would seem obvious. Harry sings Worried About You by the Rolling Stones to Marianne when Paul and Penelope walk through the door. Paul and Marianne, spend their vacation in Italy and experience trouble when Marianne invites a former lover and his teenage daughter to visit, which leads to jealousy and dangerous sexual scenarios. I've said before that she is such a fascinating actress that I would probably buy a ticket to watch Tilda Swinton just stand on stage. Let me know in the comments below! Pen maintains her composure until she is shown boarding the plane in tears unseen by Marianne and Paul who depart in their car. There are some great direct sightlines into camera and point-of-view shifts. So, Cineteatro San Gaetanostands in for the bar which is calledCircolo San Gaetano. By Peter Debruge. I'm here to inspire you to do the same! You could read an entire history of civilization and capitalism in how Marianne drapes her legs across a lounger or strides into a humble Italian home to sample some homemade ricotta. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. If you thought that Oscar Isaac's dancing in "Ex Machina" was a sight to behold, then wait until you see this. This cinema appears a couple of scenes later as the exterior to the bar that Harry and Marianne pop in to perform some karaoke. Polignano Amare and surrounding area was a festival of the senses from the beauriful sounds, vistas and aromas and I am sure this part of Italy will not disappoint. I'm a fan of Tilda Swinton, but her performance here was awful. My gut was telling me that nothing of real interest was going to happen in this movie. Beautifully photographed Sicilian landscape dwarfs four small lives and the mess they create. A big shout-out to the picture-perfect cinematography of Yorick Le Saux. Marianne is ordered not to talk for another two weeks, so Swinton plays it all mostly silent. The world that Mr. Guadagnino creates is at once seductive and aspirational, and another reminder that movies have always excelled at stoking consumer desires. Good! Unfortunately, you cant take something like that for granted among the audience. Best wishes, James. Harry is an old-style alpha male; a toxic narcissist and exhibitionist, bipolar without the down phase, unable to stop talking, hell-raising and getting his kit off for skinny dips in the pool. And now to the negative. Just like the rest of the movie. A Bigger Splash seems to announce its intentions from minute one, cutting from the rockstar Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton) electrifying a stadium of thousands to a shot of her sunbathing nude by. It works for the most part, but largely due to the efforts of the talented, committed cast. Ralph Fiennes is simply electric as the unwanted guest, oblivious to his intrusion (not to mention the disturbance he causes by constantly walking around nude), while Tilda Swinton is solid in a challenging role that forces her to emote without talking above a whisper. Keeping Swinton away from his camera at first, Guadagnino finally gives us some breathtaking closeups of her face; given a new inscrutability with its slanted eye makeup. Tilda Swinton, who has worked with Guadagnino in the past, stars as voiceless rockstar Marianne Lane, who has retired to a remote island off the coast of Italy in order to recover from an operation on her vocal chords. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. In fact, because the film is so precise for long in both its beauty and its weirdness, the tonal shift toward uncomfortable farce feels that much more . Honestly, this villa is perfect. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Marianne and Harry walk aroundCarrefour SupermercatiinPantelleria. Jacques Deray adapted this story once before in his 1969 film La Piscine, but Luca Guadagnino's 2015 iteration relies on its sharp sense for revelations of secrets and lies to draw us into its narrative and wrap us up in the impression of its characters. It works well in the melodrama genre because people act differently when brought together, especially in a luxurious or exotic location where they can let go and be who they really are: recent examples include Youth (2015) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). And as I say in my video reviewabove, this is all served up by Italian director Luca Guadagnino working in the English language with an international cast from a premise based on the 1969 French filmLa Piscine. Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) and Marianne (Tilda Swinton) in A Bigger Splash. (Shaw Organisation), Ralph Fiennes is a hilarious Henry Hawkes. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. In a standout scene, Harry launches into a frenzied, shirtless dance to the Rolling Stones' 'Emotional Rescue' around the beautifully tiled pool at Tenuta Borgia estate, above and below left. This is a terrifically assured switch to English-language film-making from Guadagnino, and like his interesting but faintly overvalued movie I Am Love, it has something of the drifting ennui of Antonioni. The behavior of all the other characters around him didn't make any sense. Ms. Swinton conveys casual entitlement like someone to the manner born, which gives Mariannes teasing exchanges with Harry an increasingly discomfiting quality. $7,545,758. But it is Fiennes, loosening up like never before, who steals the show with a lively turn as a frenetic but successful music producer who doesnt want to let anyone forget he was a creative force on the Rolling Stones album Voodoo Lounge. Let us know what you think. a bigger splash, did paul sleep with penelope. Yours to own now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bigger-SplasFind out more at http://www.studiocanal.co.uk Sign up for our newsletter http://studiocanalnewsletter.co.uk/subscribe #TildaSwinton #DakotaJohnson #RalphFiennes #StudioCanal #StudioCanalUK Find out where to watch online amongst 45+ services including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video. Marianne can only speak in whispers, but Harry could - and does - talk for England. --"Everyone's obscene." A remake of the 1969 cult classic La Piscine, this is a tale of recuperating rock star Marianne (played by Tilda Swinton) and her boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), who are holed up on a romantic holiday until the peace is shattered by the arrival of record producer and old flame Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson). I love this film and the locations so muchthat visiting is high on my bucket list. My research tells me that Arco dell Elefante (a rock formation by the sea that looks like an elephants trunk) is one of theA Bigger Splashfilming locations. At least after that Harry shut up, so that's a plus. 2023 READERS CHOICE AWARDS SURVEY IS LIVE. The swimming pool is a secular temple of near-nakedness, and sex perfumes everything like the tang of chlorine. A tense standoff plays out even though neither side understands what the other is even doing there: The gulf between the holidaying party and the people around them is socially vast, but geographically tiny. Taken in this light, the music is one of the most incongruous aspects of an already incongruous movie. Also almost ginger! Running time: 2 hours 4 minutes. Chris Eubank launched a furious rant after Paul Gascoigne told a very crude story during Sunday's series premiere of Channel 4's Scared Of The Dark.. 01/09/2015 Venice 2015 - France. The music itself must be able to add to the movie without having to rely on the viewers foreknowledge. By the picture's end, we're supposed to believe the character played by Matthias Schoenaerts has gotten away with murder. His elegance makes cinematic the most unpalatable of tales and this one, a four sided triangle, it's unpalatable and scrumptious all at the same time. It also helps to have an A-list cast of superb actors along for the trip. John Powers calls the film, which stars Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes, a "gripping slow-burn." (2016) Audience Score. Bad things happen, because, you know, life is pain in the meantime, though, do enjoy the magnificent digs, the designer threads and the frolicking nude stars. [16], In February 2015, Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired U.S distribution rights to the film. Semi-fictionalized documentary biopic of British artist David Hockney. But if it is, I didnt see it! With him is Penelope "Pen" Lanier, a previously unknown daughter of his who says she is 22. Here, it appears, is a movie about the glamorous life of a celebrity, and the consequences therein. Harry says he was 16 when "Emotional Rescue" was released, but that album was released in June 1980 and Harry's passport birth date is in August 1961, so he was nearly 19 when that album came out. What could have somewhat saved this movie is some good scenery shots and cinematography. It stars Tilda Swinton (Marianne Lane), Matthias Schoenaerts (Paul De Smedt), Ralph Fiennes (Harry Hawkes), and Dakota Johnson (Penelope Lanier). [24] Lucky Red released the film in Italy on 26 November 2015. Your email address will not be published. A famous rock star's vacation in Italy with her boyfriend is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter.A famous rock star's vacation in Italy with her boyfriend is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter.A famous rock star's vacation in Italy with her boyfriend is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter. What is the Hindi language plot outline for A Bigger Splash (2015)? She tells him that she does love him, but that she cannot be with him and that she is with Paul. I've come to the conclusion that Guadagnino is highly pretentious. In an isolated villa on the small Italian island of Pantelleria, world-famous rock singer Marianne Lane is on holiday with her filmmaker lover Paul De Smedt. Marianne Lane in A Bigger Splash. (Shaw Organisation). Its at the San Siro Stadiumwhich is the home to football teams AC Milan and Inter Milan. While the film is hit-and-miss, Ralph Fiennes is a total riot. . The actors could not be better cast for this. In . The best out of all theA Bigger Splashlocations and where the majority of the movie unfolds. Haha, Thanks so much for your comment, James! Ralph Fienness was very good as well at least his acting was. A Bigger Splash (2015) follows Marianne (Tilda Swinton) and her boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) as they seek respite from Marianne's hectic music career in a remote villa. Basking in sun-broiled sexual tension, the misfits listen to old Rolling Stones records while Harry attempts to seduce Marianne, and Penelope stirs Paul's smouldering pot. That said, the plot takes a sharp turn in the final 35 minutes with a twist that causes us to view three of the characters in a different light. He Tweets/Instagrams at Optimarcus and writes at marcusgohmarcusgoh.com. Memories of teenage holidays on a far-flung Italian outpost between Sicily and Tunisia prompted director Luca Guadagnino to set his latest film, A Bigger Splash, on the volcanic island.A remake of the 1969 cult classic La Piscine, this is a tale of recuperating rock star Marianne (played by Tilda Swinton) and her boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), who are holed up on a romantic holiday . [34], the 1967 David Hockney painting of the same name, "Luca Guadagnino, Tilda Swinton & Dakota Johnson", "A Bigger Splash: Luca Guadagnino Interview", "Venice Film Festival: Lido Lineup Builds Awards Season Buzz Full List", "Venice Fest Reveals Robust Lineup Featuring Hollywood Stars and International Auteurs", "First still of "A Bigger Splash": Matthias Schoenaerts, Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson and Ralph Fiennes", "Exclusive 'A Bigger Splash' Photos Show Tilda Swinton's Beautiful Calm Before The Storm", "Watch: First Clip From 'A Bigger Splash' With Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson, Ralph Fiennes & Matthias Schoenaerts", "Tilda Swinton Covers AnOther Magazine, But Not as herself", "A Bigger Splash official teaser trailer", "WHY on Earth is Ralph Fiennes doing karaoke? Matthias Schoenaerts intelligently conveys the way Paul feels constrained by gratitude and good manners Harry actually introduced him to Marianne. Please read the disclaimer here. The longer it went on, the more obnoxious it became, and what was initially interesting and intriguing became really lazy and uninspired. The volcanic setting is perfect because it looks like this foursome could erupt at any moment. To complete this train of thought, it might be added that this film is obscene! Marianne Lane's concert scene was filmed in Milan, at the San Siro Stadium, which is like the Madison Square Garden of Milan. Sadly, with no voice in the movie, she was still the most exciting character to watch. In 'A Bigger Splash', rock legend Marianne Lane is recuperating on the volcanic island of Pantelleria with her partner Paul when iconoclast record producer and old flame Harry unexpectedly arrives with his daughter Penelope and interrupts their holiday, bringing with him an A-bomb blast of nostalgia from which there can be no rescue. Daddy and daughter in A Bigger Splash. (Shaw Organisation). At the airport, as Pen is about to fly out, she tells Paul and Marianne something that refers to something Marianne once said to Harry. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Filming took place in the ancient village of Scauri and the surrounding coast: in one of the opening scenes, Marianne and Paul slather themselves in sulphuric mud scooped from the milky, turquoise waters of the Lago di Venere. Ralph Fiennes squeezes every last drop from this juicy role. A Bigger Splash is an Italian-French erotic drama (with English dialogue) thats inspired by the 1969 film, La Piscine. Marianne, a pop star whos recovering from vocal surgery, goes on a holiday with her boyfriend Paul, only to find her old flame Harry is there with his daughter, Penelope. Advertisement. Everyone's obscene. That insufferable hedonist Harry is forever showing the group a good time; forever making everyone take second place to the good time he is having. . Directed by Luca Guadagnino, who is best known for his well-received work on "I Am Love" in 2009, this has to be a shoe-in for the most screwed up family holiday of the year. Wealthy and worldly, his characters are broadly the same as in the 1969 film, which is transplanted from the South of France setting to the Italian island of Pantelleria off the Sicilian coast. [27] Originally scheduled to open in the United States on 13 May 2016, it was brought forward to 4 May. I despair of professional critics who go weak at the knees if they can describe a film as arty. Is A Bigger Splash streaming? But Luca Guadagninos new film comes into sharper focus much later, as the viewer realizes Europes ongoing migrant crisis is playing out in the background, largely ignored by the high-wattage ensemble until it becomes impossible not to. Realising his mistake, Paul pulls Harry to the surface and attempts to resuscitate him, but is unsuccessful and leaves Harry to drift to the bottom of the pool. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 89%, based on 184 reviews. While they are out mingling with the crowds at a local festival, Harry toe-curlingly insists on taking Marianne to a bar with a karaoke machine, dangerously forcing her to be on display, like a drug-dealer getting a former customer to tumble back off the wagon, exploiting her celebrity and feeding off it. Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson) in A Bigger Splash. (Shaw Organisation). It works for the most part, but largely due to the efforts of the talented, committed cast. 8/10. In her latest collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love, 2009), Ms. Swinton's character remains mostly silent, save a few well placed whispers and one uncontrollable outburst, and she is certainly worth the price of that ticket. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Starring Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ralph Fiennes, and Dakota Johnson, the film is loosely based on the 1969 Jacques Deray film La Piscine[3] and named after the 1967 David Hockney painting of the same name. [31][32], A Bigger Splash received generally positive reviews from critics. I almost walked out halfway through. Thank goodness for so many sensible ordinary viewers who tell it like it is. It is also very pretentious. While the film is hit-and-miss, Ralph Fiennes is a total riot. A Bigger Splash seems to announce its intentions from minute one, cutting from the rockstar Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton) electrifying a stadium of thousands to a shot of her sunbathing nude by a pool in an Italian villa. Although the tone is always appropriate to the scene, the pacing is not, and barely gives you enough time to recover from the deeper scenes before tossing you on some sort of playful treatment of a morbid situation. She obliges and returns to the car where she and Paul share their relief and drive away. [12], The first international teaser trailer was released on 1 October 2015. [9] Swinton appeared in-character on the cover of the Autumn/Winter 2015 issue of AnOther Magazine. Moving into the villa, Harry starts inviting friends around as if it were his home and taking everybody out to various sights and festivities. When Marianne goes off drinking with Paul, their conversation begins inPiazza San Gaetanojust outside the church. Pen eventually reveals that she can speak perfect Italian, but chose to let her hosts struggle, and her passport reveals that she is only 17. Shot in the torpid heat of summer, the story unfolds around the sun-bleached landscape of the island, whose increasingly menacing majesty becomes a metaphor for the mounting desire, passion and regret experienced by the four main characters. In the morning, his corpse is seen by the maid, who calls the police. A Bigger Splash: Sex, sun and rock'n'roll. We are all barbarians, some are fortunate enough to get away with it. Marianne Lane is performing in concert (though she looks more like shes competing in a trashy David Bowie lookalike contest) to thousands of screaming fans. A ghastly discovery almost seems like it's being played for laughs. Harry, a parody of a coked-up 80s record producer who still manages to feel like a real person, is creepily close to his daughter, a gorgeous poolside temptress he claims to have met as a grown-up. La leggenda del rock Marianne Lane in vacanza sull'isola vulcanica di Pantelleria con il compagno Paul quando arriva inaspettatamente a interrompere la loro vacanza Harry, produttore discografico iconoclasta nonch suo ex, insieme alla figlia Penelope, provocando un'esplosione di nostalgia delirante dalla quale sar impossibile mettersi al riparo. A Bigger Splash A convalescing rockstar and her boyfriend vacationing on the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria see their private holiday disrupted when they receive an unexpected visit. Hes a man on a desperate mission, one that Mr. Fiennes, with a wildly flapping mouth and manic limbs, turns into a raw, indelible portrait of loss. Schoenaerts is movie-star handsome and completely believable as the object of the lilting Johnsons attraction. To keep the plot line taut there are only four actors who play out in two pairs and the chemistry is anything but harmonious. 'A Bigger Splash' is a sensuous portrait of desire, jealousy . Pen reveals that she can speak perfect Italian, but she decided to allow her hosts to struggle, also she is in fact 17, not 22, Marianne takes her to the airport, and for being insolent gives a good slap before she leaves. Does it add to the story or characterisation to have her be mute? Henry is very entertaining, and one of the few larger than life characters where their flamboyance is actually warranted by their background. Is there even a moral to be had from this? However, the ending feels a little abrupt. Harry Hawkes: We're all obscene. The only redeemable thing about this movie was the lovely Tilda Swinton, and her beautiful wardrobe. Guadagnino elegantly draws on influences from fact and fiction: Harry is a former acquaintance of the Rolling Stones and the movie refers to Brian Jones in an early interview scene. Its a very stylish and engaged remake of Jacques Derays 1969 psychological thriller La Piscine (The Swimming Pool). Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Producers are Guadagnino and Michael Costigan.