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A Bigger Splash (15)

Italy, France, 2015. 120 mins. Dir. Luca Guadagnino

Frequent collaborators actress Tilda Swinton and I Am Love director Luca Guadagnino reunite for this heady, romantic tragicomedy, a more-or-less remake of Jacques Deray’s 1969 drama La Piscine.

Swinton plays Marianne, a Bowie-esque rock star recuperating (in silence) after an operation on her vocal chords on a glamorous Mediterranean island. She’s with her boyfriend, filmmaker Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) when her old flame Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and his foxy, petulant 20-something daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson) pitch up at their villa unexpectedly.

What follows is not the partner-switching comedy you might expect – rather, Guadagnino shows the psychological as well as sexual tensions created by the new arrivals; also unleashing some comedy (including Fiennes giving a masterclass in dad dancing) and some social commentary, observing how these privileged tourists coexist uneasily with islanders and illegal African immigrants seeking shelter.

A simmering, provocative psychodrama ensues – full of romance, envy and amoral intrigue – with outstanding performances from all four stars.

‘Utterly distinctive … A real pleasure.’ ????
THE GUARDIAN

‘A shimmering tank of romance, jealousy and intrigue’ ????
THE TELEGRAPH

‘A seriously fun film with a shadier side that’s ripe for unpicking when the curtain drops’ ????
TIME OUT

Showing Times:

• Mon 11 Apr: 7.30pm
• Thu 14 Apr: 7.30pm

Venue: Studio 74