A Bigger Splash (2015) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A secluded holiday collapses into a volatile triangle of desire, resentment, accidental death, and shared concealment.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

Silence Before The Visitors

Marianne and Paul spend a secluded holiday at a Pantelleria villa while both recover from serious personal difficulties. Marianne cannot speak normally, and Paul's fragile recovery creates a quiet undertow of vulnerability.

Key Events

• Isolated Pantelleria Villa — Marianne and Paul begin a secluded holiday together. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: An isolated villa on Pantelleria
• Marianne Loses Her Voice — Marianne recovers from surgery and communicates through signs and whispers. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa
• Paul's Fragile Recovery — Paul's recovery from addiction and a suicide attempt shadows the holiday. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa
• Harry Arrives Unexpectedly — Harry arrives with his daughter and moves into the villa. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa entrance
• Harry Claims The Villa — Harry invites friends around and treats the villa as his own. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa

Harry Reclaims The Villa

Harry arrives and disrupts the couple's private retreat by treating the villa as his own social headquarters. His arrogance irritates Paul while drawing Marianne back toward their unresolved past.

Key Events

• Harry Claims The Villa — Harry invites friends around and treats the villa as his own. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa
• Island Outings Begin — Harry takes the group around the island, intensifying the social disruption. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Pantelleria sights and festivities
• Paul Resents Harry — Harry's arrogance bores the daughter and annoys Paul. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa
• Marianne Falls Under Harry's Spell — Marianne becomes emotionally drawn toward Harry again. Characters: Marianne Lane, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa
• Harry Renews Intimacy — Harry and Marianne begin becoming intimate during the holiday. Characters: Marianne Lane, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa

Desire And Resentment

Harry and Marianne approach renewed intimacy, but Marianne rejects him and recommits herself to Paul. The emotional triangle leaves Paul increasingly isolated as Harry continues drinking and provoking him.

Key Events

• Harry Renews Intimacy — Harry and Marianne begin becoming intimate during the holiday. Characters: Marianne Lane, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa
• Marianne Chooses Paul — Marianne stops Harry and says she cannot be with him because she is with Paul. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa
• Paul Is Emotionally Isolated — Paul becomes unhappy as Harry's presence exposes tension in the couple. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa
• Harry Drinks Alone — Harry drinks on his own before returning late to the villa. Characters: Harry Hawkes Location: Pantelleria
• Poolside Fight Begins — Harry returns late and starts a fight with Paul beside the pool. Characters: Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa pool

The Poolside Death

Harry returns late after drinking and fights with Paul beside the pool. Paul holds him underwater, fails to revive him, and leaves the body at the bottom of the pool.

Key Events

• Poolside Fight Begins — Harry returns late and starts a fight with Paul beside the pool. Characters: Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa pool
• Harry Drowns — Paul holds Harry underwater until Harry drowns during the struggle. Characters: Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa pool
• Failed Resuscitation — Paul pulls Harry up and attempts resuscitation without success. Characters: Paul De Smedt, Harry Hawkes Location: Villa pool
• Body Found In Pool — The maid discovers Harry's corpse, and the police are called. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa pool

Lies And Confession

The body is discovered and the villa occupants face police questioning. Marianne supports an intruder story, while Paul later confesses privately that he caused Harry's death.

Key Events

• Body Found In Pool — The maid discovers Harry's corpse, and the police are called. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa pool
• Police Question The Occupants — The villa occupants are taken in for questioning during a refugee emergency. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa
• The Intruder Story — Marianne claims she was asleep and suggests an intruder killed Harry. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Police questioning area
• Paul Confesses Privately — Paul tearfully tells Marianne that he killed Harry but tried to save him. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa

A Dangerous Relief

At the airport, an unsettling revelation provokes Marianne to slap Harry's daughter. A later police stop unexpectedly turns into an autograph request, allowing Marianne and Paul to leave with temporary relief.

Key Events

• Paul Confesses Privately — Paul tearfully tells Marianne that he killed Harry but tried to save him. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Villa
• Disturbing Airport Farewell — Harry's daughter reveals unexpected knowledge, and Marianne slaps her before departure. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Airport
• Unexpected Police Stop — The investigating officer stops them but asks Marianne for an autograph instead. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Road back to the villa
• Relieved Departure — Marianne signs the CD, returns to Paul, and they drive away relieved. Characters: Marianne Lane, Paul De Smedt Location: Road from the villa

Story Breakdown

• Secluded Recovery — Marianne and Paul begin the story in an isolated villa while dealing with physical and psychological recovery.
  • Marianne's Silence — Surgery leaves Marianne without her normal singing voice, so she communicates through signs and whispers.
  • Paul's Vulnerability — Paul is recovering from alcohol addiction and a suicide attempt.
• Uninvited Arrival — Harry enters the couple's private world and immediately changes the villa's social atmosphere.
  • Harry Enters — Harry arrives with his daughter and moves into the villa.
  • Villa Becomes Social — Harry invites friends around and takes the group to island sights and festivities.
• Old Desire Returns — Harry's history with Marianne resurfaces and challenges her relationship with Paul.
  • Harry Pursues Marianne — Harry and Marianne begin becoming intimate.
  • Marianne Rejects Him — Marianne stops Harry and says she is with Paul.
• Jealous Tensions Rise — Harry's conduct and Paul's unhappiness transform emotional discomfort into open hostility.
  • Paul Feels Annoyed — Harry's arrogant behavior annoys Paul and disrupts the couple's peace.
  • Harry Drinks Alone — Harry drinks alone before returning very late to the villa.
• Poolside Fatality — The rivalry becomes physical and ends with Harry's death in the pool.
  • Fight Beside Pool — Harry starts a fight with Paul beside the pool.
  • Failed Rescue — Paul holds Harry underwater, then unsuccessfully attempts resuscitation.
• Concealment And Escape — The remaining characters navigate questioning, confession, an unsettling farewell, and an unexpectedly forgiving final encounter.
  • Shared Intruder Story — Marianne suggests an intruder killed Harry while Paul lies about his bedtime.
  • Uneasy Departure — Paul confesses to Marianne, and they ultimately leave after the investigating officer asks for an autograph.

Directed by

Luca Guadagnino

Key Cast

• Tilda Swinton — Marianne Lane
• Matthias Schoenaerts — Paul De Smedt
• Ralph Fiennes — Harry Hawkes
• Dakota Johnson — Penelope Lanier
• Corrado Guzzanti — Maresciallo