A fatal struggle in an isolated villa hides a deeper psychological decay
In short: Set on the remote Italian island of Pantelleria, Luca Guadagnino’s drama follows a world-famous singer who has lost her voice and a filmmaker recovering from addiction. Their secluded sanctuary is shattered by uninvited guests, leading to a violent confrontation that leaves one man dead at the bottom of a pool.
A Bigger Splash (2015) serves as the middle chapter in Luca Guadagnino's 'Desire trilogy,' positioned between I Am Love and Call Me by Your Name. The film is loosely inspired by Jacques Deray's 1969 movie La Piscine and takes its title from a 1967 painting by David Hockney. It centers on Marianne Lane, a rock star recovering from surgery who can only communicate through signs and whispers, and her lover Paul De Smedt, who is struggling with alcohol addiction and a previous suicide attempt.
The tension escalates when Harry Hawkes, an extroverted music producer and Marianne's former lover, arrives at the villa with his daughter, Pen. While Harry attempts to treat the villa as his own social hub, he creates friction with Paul. The narrative reaches a breaking point during a late-night fight between Harry and Paul by the pool. During the struggle, Paul holds Harry underwater; though he initially attempts to resuscitate him, Harry eventually drowns.
The film explores themes of deception and power dynamics through its characters' secrets. While Marianne claims she was asleep during the murder, Paul admits his role in the death while trying to protect their domestic life. A significant twist involves Pen, who pretends to be 22 but is actually only 17; she reveals she can speak perfect Italian but chose not to help her hosts communicate. The story concludes with a tense departure, underscored by a final interaction where Marianne's past actions are weaponized against her.
Critically acclaimed for its visual style and performances, the film holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It premiered at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2015 before seeing a global release in 2016. An extended version of the narrative, titled An Even Bigger Splash, was later screened in early 2022.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: A Bigger Splash (2015 film)
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