Pools, on film
La Piscine dir. jacques deray (1969)
“The most enticing bodies (of water) on screen.”
In an optimal version of summer, the perfect day is spent poolside. The serene blues in your eyesight might be lined with shaggy grass that obscures a picket fence, or otherwise reveal the edges of a faraway, cliffside infinity. The mood at your pool of choice may be laidback and leisurely, or it could precipitate a boisterous party. In all of these scenarios, though, a day at the pool is about seeing picturesque sights and letting your senses take hold — much like what, at its best, can happen when you immerse yourself in the world of a movie. In my blissful imagination of this optimal summer day, when afternoon dips to evening, the time for the easy thrill of watching hot bodies splashing in cool water creeps nearer. Once you’ve showered the sunscreen away, and the dark of night befalls, dive into these favorites.
A tall drink of water is a must for those whose primary pool activity is actually swimming, while something stronger lends better to lounging. In the aptly titled 1968 classic based on a racy story of the same name by John Cheever, Burt Lancaster’s character keeps on the move.
A nighttime skinny dip is one of those things that everyone ought to try, sometime. Dressed in only a red lip, the flirty energy Riley Keough’s Sarah exudes dances off the screen.
Roastin’, bolin’, bakin’, swelterin’ in the sun before the action begins in Jonathan Glazer’s very 2000s Sexy Beast. This opening scene is unmissable — much like the splash it concludes with.
A peek at intimacy up close, under the diving board in Wes Anderson’s debut portrait of two wannabe criminals attempting a series of heists, and learning about life and romance along the way.
Goggle-vision is on display in an eerie flick where every other frame looks glitter-bombed. Though our view is obstructed, what appear to be leather miniskirts and fitted bodices on deck are a welcome surprise.
An image of what looks like any other stunning, simple Saturday afternoon — in a story about how one of cinematic history’s most suspenseful, genre-defining pictures came to be.
An underwater tea party in the depths of the Chateau Marmont’s baby blues is an unbeatable way to spend an afternoon — soundtrack it to The Strokes, and you’re set.
If you’ve ever gazed upon the hills that overlook Hollywood and imagined what each pool might be like up close, here’s a scene for you. The sights to behold take place in a peculiar 1967’s adaptation of Valley of the Dolls that conjures boundless era-inspired glamour.
The provocative, lustful scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High where Phoebe Cates’ Linda stuns in a red bikini is imagined through a teenage boy’s gaze — and to this day, it remains etched in our memories.
Putting a cliquey high school posse in their place, post-graduation, is an extremely satisfying trope to see play out. In the Australian ‘90s cult classic (which kickstarted Toni Collette’s career), Muriel and her best friend make the most of their vacation by doing just that.
A glimpse at a cavernous, reflective indoor body of water whose setting screams one big, blurred, endless hangout, in a film probably better known for a sunglassed scene that takes place outside.
And finally; a list of pool shots could hardly be complete without Benjamin Braddock (one of Dustin Hoffman’s most iconic characters to this day). Cue cocktail time, sit back, and relax.
Words by Marina Sulmona