Swimming (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Swimming

| image = Swimming film.jpg

| caption = Swimming DVD cover

| director = Robert J. Siegel

| writer = Lisa Bazadona
Robert J. Siegel
Grace Woodard

| starring = Lauren Ambrose
Jennifer Dundas
Joelle Carter

| cinematography = John Leuba

| music = Mark White

| producer = Linda Moran

| studio = J. Blank Fichera
Frank Reynolds

| distributor = Oceanside Pictures

| budget =

| released = {{Film date|2000|01||Slamdance Film Festival|2002|04|5|United States}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

}}

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.

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

{{Cast listing|

Lauren Ambrose as Francine "Frankie" Wheeler
Jennifer Dundas as Nicola Jenrette
Joelle Carter as Josee
Josh Pais as Neil Wheeler
Sharon Scruggs as Marianne Wheeler
Jamie Harrold as Heath
Joshua Harto as Lance
Anthony Ruivivar as Kalani
James Villemaire as Brad

}}

Production

Lauren Ambrose was cast well before the HBO series Six Feet Under took off in critical acclaim.{{Cite news |last=Gates |first=Anita |date=2003-10-05 |title=MOVIES: CRITIC'S CHOICE |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/05/tv/movies-critic-s-choice.html |access-date=2022-11-12 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Black |first=John |date=2002-06-22 |title=Making waves with 'Swimming' |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2002/06/22/making-waves-with-swimming/50972152007/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Cape Cod Times |language=en-US}}

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."

Principal photography took place over 28 days from October to November 1998.{{Cite web |title=Swimming - Miscellaneous Notes |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/432126/swimming#notes |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Turner Classic Movie Database}}

Release

The film debuted at the 2000 Slamdance Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Loggia |first=Cynthia |last2=Lyons |first2=Charles |date=1999-12-21 |title=Special Slamdance |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/special-slamdance-1117760177/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |date=1999-12-01 |title=2000 Slamdance Special Screenings |url=https://www.indiewire.com/1999/12/2000-slamdance-special-screenings-2-81942/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=IndieWire |language=en}} In November 2000, the film secured a distribution deal{{Cite web |last=Goodridge |first=Mike |date=2000-12-01 |title=Overseas Filmgroup acquires rights to Swimming |url=https://www.screendaily.com/overseas-filmgroup-acquires-rights-to-swimming/404380.article |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Screen Daily |language=en}} 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."{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=2002-09-13 |title=Swimming |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/swimming-2002 |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=RogerEbert.com}} 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." Ed Gonzales of Slant Magazine wrote the film "is that rare coming-of-age tale that doesn’t scream Afterschool Special."{{cite magazine |last1=Gonzales |first1=Ed |title=Review: Swimming |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/swimming/ |magazine=Slant Magazine |access-date=12 November 2022 |date=August 13, 2002}}

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."{{Cite web |title=Swimming |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swimming_2000 |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}

= Accolades =

Outfest Los Angeles
Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film - Lauren Ambrose (winner)
Woodstock Film Festival{{Cite web |date=2000-09-22 |title=Curtain rises on Woodstock Film Festival |url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/curtain-rises-on-woodstock-film-festival/article_bcf8dd3b-169f-556a-b632-22c74a9a9f8d.html |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Daily Freeman |language=en-US}}
Robert J. Siegel (winner)