Swingers

Being Swingers for several years now I watched this film with high expectations and with some skepticism, because seldom is "our" way of life portrayed in a realistic way. Usually it is turned into a cheap thriller where the so called swinger is someone with a problem, killing their dates in a bloody manner. With this film it is clear that the drama comes from the lifestyle. Something true swingers might sigh about. Usually real swingers live a positive life with hardly any problems concerning their way of life. In this case trouble is obligatory. No trouble, no drama.

So the first hour or so is exciting. Very recognizable moments are played very convincing by the actors. When the plot moves into the second half, the film has some slow moments, but never to a degree that it gets boring. All in all it is a very believable film and it sets a very good tone and atmosphere of how it is really like to have a swingers-date.

Technical flaws of this film where other viewers spoke of, I didn't see. It looked all fine to me, the sound, the image and the music were in good balance. I enjoyed it very much and so did my wife.

Compliments!

Well, there I was, standing in hand with 6 videos, where you can get 7 for just 7 euro's, so I needed one more... A good reason to give 'Swingers' a try. Normally, I'm not too fond of Dutch movies, with the usual exceptions (De Grot, Zusje). But Swingers wasn't too bad. As someone said earlier, the acting is what it's all about in a movie like this, based upon just a couple of characters. Recently I saw comparable movies (that is, with just a couple of characters doing a lot of talking) where the acting was better (Misery), but then again another where it was a lot worse (the incredibly dull Hurlyburly). Here it's... okay really. I don't understand the criticism De Kok gets, I liked him the best. The story is pretty interesting as well, and the music didn't bother me as much as it did to others apparently. I'd give it a 6 out of 10. Oh and BTW: It's great to see Brenninkmeyer defending his film on the IMDB (although he probably shouldn't quote 'De Telegraaf'), isn't this a great site :)

Great mix of drama and erotica. First part of the film is provocative and sultry. It appeals to everyone's fantasy and is played out very realistic. After a while however more serious questions are asked and it is here where the lack of moral guidance was well appreciated. The makers give you room for your own conclusions, which is a far more intelligent than just telling us how to feel. Unjustly compared with the Dutch, cheap sex laden films from the 70's. People who think Swinging is something from the past don't know what's going on. Even puritan Oprah did a show on this group of people. "They may be your neighbors. They could live in your street!"

Good entertainment.

Exerpts from the German site: "Das Manifest..."

What appears to to look like a cheap soft-sex-film, turns into a real discovery under the cunning hands of newcomer Stephan Brenninkmeijer. Not only does he avoid all the clichés that usually comes with a theme like this, he also succeeds in giving you the feeling that most other films about this topic lack... erotic tingles.

Instead of plunging into a lot of fumbling in the dark, Brenninkmeijer builds an atmosphere, he gives us a chance to care for the characters and he doesn't shy away from cutting these tensions short, just to build them up again. As happens so frequently in real life.

"Swingers" didn't do to well in the Dutch cinema's but turned out to be a front runner in the video and DVD stores.

Hopefully sales in Germany also boosts for this little gem, so Epix can treat us more often with such a pearl.

(for the complete review check out http://www.dasmanifest.net/03/1020.php )

Put four people in one room and let tension run high. It has been done before in film history, but when it's done well, it can produce 'Big Cinema'. 'Swingers' is at times 'Big Cinema'. It's Brenninkmeijer's second feature and he turns out to be a great actor's director and writer of sharp dialog.

A film like 'Swingers', with only four characters, stands or falls with the acting. And although it's their first major role in a feature film, all four play out their characters very well. Ellen van der Koogh plays a beautiful but insecure woman; Danny de Kok is like a young puppy who gets let loose in the woods for the first time; Nienke Brinkhuis is the unsatisfiable self and Joep Sertons plays the quite husband who seems to be at ease with his swinging situation.

Especially the first part of Swingers is mouthwatering. It starts with Julian who screams up his confidence while shaving but it really starts to get interesting from the moment Timo and Alex arrive at the house. How to act when you meet your date for the first time knowing you will have some steamy moments with for the weekend?

The first clumsy moves are hysterical. While sitting uncomfortably in the livingroombench, they are overly interested in their daily work and professions and the words 'cosy' are spoken before it really had a chance to set in. Every once and a while Diana escapes to the kitchen to get more drinks an Julian follows to give her a hand. Fortunately they have picked an awesome house to play their game. A house were a swimmingpool and a sauna are commonplace. Alex takes the initiative and soon they are skinnydipping to get things started were they have come for.

The biggest credit you can give 'Swingers´ is the way in which the emotional balance shifts gradually. Those who started out vulnerable evolve more secure while the others use their self-consciousness to shield themselves for the truth. The way the characters throw each other glances, the things they say, the mindgames they play: it's all as subtle as it is venomous. Although the film gets a bit slow at the point of the 'Big Moment' and 'the morning after', it doesn't hide the fact that with 'Swingers', Brenninkmeijer delivered a film of international standing.