Swimming (film)

Swimming is a 2000 coming-of-age drama film directed by Robert J. Siegel and starring Lauren Ambrose, Jennifer Dundas, and Joelle Carter. The film chronicles a summer in the life of Frankie, a teenager on South Carolina's Myrtle Beach.

Swimming
Swimming DVD cover
Directed byRobert J. Siegel
Written byLisa Bazadona
Robert J. Siegel
Grace Woodard
Produced byLinda Moran
StarringLauren Ambrose
Jennifer Dundas
Joelle Carter
CinematographyJohn Leuba
Music byMark White
Production
companies
J. Blank Fichera
Frank Reynolds
Distributed byOceanside Pictures
Release dates
January 2000 (Slamdance Film Festival)
April 5, 2002 (United States)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2000 and went on to play a variety of film festivals, including the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival. At Outfest Los Angeles, Ambrose won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film.

Plot

On Myrtle Beach, Frankie works at her family's burger stand run by her older brother Neil. During her off hours, she hangs out with her best friend Nicola, who runs a nearby piercing stand. The dynamic between the girls shifts when her brother hires a new girl named Josee to work at the restaurant. Though Josee is thought to be dating the local lifeguard, she expresses interest in Frankie. Frankie also meets a quirky drifter, Heath, while Nicola gets to know Kalani, a Marine from Hawaii. As Frankie starts to spend more time with Josee, Nicola tells Frankie the upsetting news that Josee is cheating with Neil, who is married and has a young family.

Cast

Production

Lauren Ambrose was cast well before the HBO series Six Feet Under took off in critical acclaim.[1][2]

Director Robert J. Siegel said, "The best part about making this movie was that we were under no obligation whatsoever to anyone. This movie is what I call fiercely independent. It's got a very European feel to it - Eric Rohmer was one of my muses when making it."[2]

Principal photography took place over 28 days from October to November 1998.[3]

Release

The film debuted at the 2000 Slamdance Film Festival.[4][5] In November 2000, the film secured a distribution deal[6] and was given a limited release on April 5, 2002.

Critical reception

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praised the film, writing Ambrose is "an actress whose face projects that woman's doubts and yearning."[7] He added, "Swimming could unfold as a sitcom, or as a desperately sincere drama, but director Robert J. Siegel and his co-writers, Liza Bazadona and Grace Woodard, go for something more delicate and subtle. They use Ambrose's ability to watch and think and not commit, and they allow the summer's choices and possibilities to unfold within her as if her sexuality is awakening for the first time."[7] Ed Gonzales of Slant Magazine wrote the film "is that rare coming-of-age tale that doesn’t scream Afterschool Special."[8]

On review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, Swimming has a 74% approval rating based on 39 reviews. The critics consensus reads, "A refreshingly low-key coming-of-age story."[9]

Accolades

References
  1. Gates, Anita (October 5, 2003). "MOVIES: CRITIC'S CHOICE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. Black, John (June 22, 2002). "Making waves with 'Swimming'". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. "Swimming - Miscellaneous Notes". Turner Classic Movie Database. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. Loggia, Cynthia; Lyons, Charles (December 21, 1999). "Special Slamdance". Variety. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  5. "2000 Slamdance Special Screenings". IndieWire. December 1, 1999. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. Goodridge, Mike (December 1, 2000). "Overseas Filmgroup acquires rights to Swimming". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  7. Ebert, Roger (September 13, 2002). "Swimming". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  8. Gonzales, Ed (August 13, 2002). "Review: Swimming". Slant Magazine. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  9. "Swimming". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  10. "Curtain rises on Woodstock Film Festival". Daily Freeman. September 22, 2000. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
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