The Swimmer Isn’t About Capitalism

Photograph by Slim Aarons which has nothing to do with The Swimmer, 1968, directed by Frank Perry and written by John Cheever.

Text by Pina Lomb

29 -

If I can convince you to get through a potentially cringe scene between a suburban patriarch and someone young enough to make the whole thing feel vaguely incorrect, as well as a plot that you may initially feel is heavy-handed, perhaps even written by a five-year-old; if you can enjoy a bit of unnecessary camera work; if you can stomach the over-the-top consistency of Burt Lancaster… then you will have taken a pill: a film that is only 1:35, but which will surely leave you feeling a sadness for the entire next day that is as difficult to shake as it is very sweet, like saltwater taffy. And if you’ve taken my advice and it is now the next day, I recommend going to a wide-open body of water, the beach, or perhaps a pool, and wallowing there with a pair of sunglasses to mask your weepiness, or at least shield your eyes from the sun. Stay tuned for more great advice.

*** 29 MARCH MMXXVI. COPYRIGHT EDITRA AND THE AUTHORS.
SHARE, SAVE ARTICLE

More in Film & Cinema