SWIMMER

SWIMMER is a poetic journey through the waterways and coastline of the British Isles, following a lone swimmer through lakes, rivers and coves. The journey is framed by a soundtrack of seminal British music, combined with a sound tapestry of hydrophonic recordings and snippets of bankside conversations. The film aims to give a real feel for the diversity of landscape and people of Britain.​

• The film is one of 4 unique co-commissions in partnership between BBC Films, Film4 and the London Organisationing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• BAFTA winner for Best Short Film for writer/director Lynne Ramsay​

• The film is described as a “stream of consciousness” that follows a young man on an endurance swim through a shifting background of country rivers and urban waterways. 
• As he cuts through the water old British songs play on an intelligently designed sound-track, intermingled with snatches of dialogue.​

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Shot by Argentinian cinematographer, Natasha Braier

Ramsay sent Braier a treatment for the film, along with a compilation of music she wanted to use and reference images as a starting point. “That’s the way she works, very organic and conceptual,” Braier comments. “The treatment was a piece of art in itself, with poetry and links to click so I could listen to these British songs she wanted to use. This was quite impressionistic, based on feelings.”​

TECHNICAL ELEMENTS

• Working with tracks laid on the riverbank for the crane, which was extended up to 60 metres in the air. “Tracking along with the swimmer was probably the biggest technical thing in the piece. We had to find a place where he could swim in a straight line and somewhere solid to lay the track so the crane wouldn’t sink in mud.”​
• Natural light was used for these scenes and Braier had to be in the right place to catch the sun at different times of day. “We scouted round and found the best spot for the crane,” she recalls. “We were also very lucky that it was a sunny day, but we had to time each sequence so the lighting was right for the different angles to shoot Tom from the side, back and front. Combined with only being able to have him in the water for two and a half minutes at a time it was a big challenge.”​

NARRATIVE

How does the swimming structure the piece?

It adds a sense of continuity, a cyclical feel to the film.

The film was shot in black and white, what influenced this choice?

It adds more of a stripped back feel to the film, it creates one central focus to the film.

How does the music work to structure the piece?

Sound: The extremely tense, and climatic music eventually fades into a gentle, soft piano. and we see him go back into the water

QUOTE:

“I’m sorry to trouble you, but we’re lost. We’ve had an accident”