A Bigger Splash
In an isolated villa on the little Italian island of Pantelleria, world-famous rock singer Marianne is on holiday with her filmmaker lover Paul. She is recovering from surgery and has lost her voice, communicating only by signs and occasional whispers. He is in recovery from alcohol addiction and a failed suicide attempt. Neither talks Italian but solitude is what both need, until an airplane from Rome brings a man neither wants to see.
This is Harry, a brash music promoter who was Marianne's lover until he passed her on to his protegé Paul. With him is Pen, a previously unknown daughter of his who says she is 22. Moving into the villa, Harry starts inviting friends round as if it were his home and taking everybody out to various sights and festivities. His arrogant manner bores Pen and annoys Paul, but Marianne starts falling under his spell again and the two make love. The sultry Pen then makes a play for the unhappy Paul, who succumbs easily.
After drinking on his own, Harry comes back very late and starts a fight beside the pool with Paul. Both fall in, and Harry is drowned. In the morning his corpse is seen by the maid, who calls the police. They have more urgent business with illegal immigrants landing from North Africa, some floating ashore dead, but take the occupants of the villa in for questioning. Marianne convinces them with the truth that she was asleep, and suggests that the muderer was an intruder. Paul lies, saying he went to bed before the time of death, and is believed. Pen reveals that she can talk perfect Italian, but chose to let her hosts struggle, and her passport reveals that she is only 17. Taking her to the airport, at the departure gate Marianne gives the insolent young woman a good slap.
murder