The Pool (2007)

97% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(414 ratings)

American Movie director Chris Smith makes the shift from documentary specialist to feature-film director with this Hindi-language drama concerning a young hotel employee whose obsession with an opulent swimming pool at a nearby house gradually turns his life upside down. The affluent hills of… More American Movie director Chris Smith makes the shift from documentary specialist to feature-film director with this Hindi-language drama concerning a young hotel employee whose obsession with an opulent swimming pool at a nearby house gradually turns his life upside down. The affluent hills of Panjim, Goa, in India are the absolute lap of luxury, and when a young boy working at a nearby hotel discovers an extravagant swimming pool, his awe is soon offset by the arrival of a mysterious family at the home. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Chris Smith
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 5, 2008 Wide
Studio: Cinetic Media

Critic Reviews

Greg Quill, Toronto Star
Patekar's ability to convey stoic forbearance with so little apparent effort, is one of the marvellous rewards of this intricately textured and compelling film.
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail
A miraculous, American-made Hindi film that is every bit as tranquil as the blue-green reservoir that serves as its abiding metaphor.
Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader
Reality and fiction fuse like watercolors in this quietly compelling narrative feature.
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
It's a bit schematic and sweet-natured, perhaps to a fault, yet the faces linger.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
By pushing himself far outside his Midwestern comfort zone and working with non-actors in a language he doesn't speak, Smith has created a fable with universal appeal.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
The Pool takes viewers on a journey to Goa that is startling not only in the lush physical beauty it reveals but also in the subtle, finely wrought emotions it stirs.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Satisfying tale of marginalized youth struggling to survive alone in a cold world and dreaming of success despite all odds against them.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
Shimmers silently. A quietly remarkable film, for its seeming simplicity, its careful rhythms, and its interest in a place and its spirit.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
The Pool is beautiful to look at, and, for what it conveys about human nature, to experience.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
worth seeing, primarily for its beautiful Goa setting
John Hartl, Seattle Times
It's a movie about a time, a place and a situation that isn't going to change soon. [Director] Smith takes his time to establish the people, the landscape and the striking contrast between the lives of the very rich and the very poor.
Sarah Boslaugh, Playback:stl
Based on a story by Randy Russell, The Pool is a low-key film that often feels like a documentary...
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
It's a beautiful little movie.
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper
The Pool is as quietly pleasant as its namesake.
Richard Knight, Windy City Times
Documentary filmmaker Chris Smith's feature debut is startling, original and quietly winning.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

This is an interesting fictional story. There is no melodrama whatsoever. The look at life in the rural and poor urban parts of India is fascinating, but I dont feel that they are enough to hold my interest for further viewings. If youre looking for entertainment, this is not it.… More
This is an interesting fictional story. There is no melodrama whatsoever. The look at life in the rural and poor urban parts of India is fascinating, but I dont feel that they are enough to hold my interest for further viewings. If youre looking for entertainment, this is not it. However, if youre in search of an honest portrayal of survival on the streets of an Indian city, you will find it here.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Pool," Venkatesh(Venkatesh Chavan) is an 18-year old hotel worker whose dreams are too ambitious for his lack of an education. In the meantime, he sells plastic bags with his 11-year old friend, Jhangir(Jhangir Badshah), who works in a… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "The Pool," Venkatesh(Venkatesh Chavan) is an 18-year old hotel worker whose dreams are too ambitious for his lack of an education. In the meantime, he sells plastic bags with his 11-year old friend, Jhangir(Jhangir Badshah), who works in a restaurant. Together, they often go to a large abandoned house on the edge of the city and dream of swimming in the pool there. One day, they find the occupants returned, a middle-aged man(Nana Patekar) and his young daughter, Ayesha(Ayesha Mohan).[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Pool" is a fine but insubstantial movie that has more of a message than any kind of plot. It is mostly concerned with the issue of children in India being forced to grow up too quickly, many with little or no education. But the film's structure betrays this by simply going in circles, repeating the endless cycle of the boys' lives. And the jump cutting gives the movie an unnecessarily artsy feel.[/font]