As the creative mind behind 2009’s adorned drama I Am Love, Luca Guadagnino knows a thing or two about portraying romance and its many trials and tribulations on screen. Elegant and flamboyant, the film received praise for its marked visual style, and the director will be hoping to emulate that success with next month’s A Bigger Splash.
Indeed, directorial style isn’t the only element that Guadagnino has carried over from I Am Love, with Tilda Swinton also re-teaming with the filmmaker for his new creative venture. Swapping the bourgeoisie for the sun-kissed sand of the Mediterranean, A Bigger Splash opens with Marianne Lane (Swinton) retreating to her Italian haven with lover Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), but as the story unfolds, any notion of relaxing in the sun quickly dissolves into a thick pool of jealousy and sexual hunger.
Alas, it’s Ralph Fiennes’ character Harry Hawkes that effectively tosses the spanner in the works. As an older flame to Swinton’s Lane, Hawkes’ mere presence evokes enough memories of yesteryear to ruffle the feathers of our lead character. Toss in Hawkes’ stunning daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson) and you have an old-fashioned tale of trouble in paradise.
On the heels of its premiere at last year’s London Film Festival, A Bigger Splash will hit UK theaters first on February 12 – going toe-to-toe with Deadpool in the process – with a US due date still to be confirmed.
A BIGGER SPLASH is a dazzling, sensuous portrait of desire, jealousy and rock ‘n’ roll under the Mediterranean sun. From Luca Guadagnino, director of the Academy Award-nominated I AM LOVE, and starring Ralph Fiennes (Spectre), Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey), Matthias Schoenaerts (Far From the Madding Crowd) and Tilda Swinton (The Grand Budapest Hotel), A BIGGER SPLASH is set to be a must-see for audiences this February.
