Deep End (1970) 2011
Directed by
Jerzy Skolimowski
Made by
Paramount Pictures
Plot Summary
Mike, a troubled 15-year-old dropout, secures a job at a public bathhouse in East London. Under the guidance of his co-worker Susan, who is a decade older than him, Mike finds himself entangled in a world that mixes both affection and manipulation. Susan, a playful tease, oscillates between being warm and affectionate to cold and aloof, leaving Mike bewildered by her behavior.
His initiation into the job comes when a female client provocatively pushes Mike’s head into her bosom and engages him in suggestive banter about football legend George Best. Initially hesitant and perplexed, Mike is convinced by Susan that these sexual encounters are a customary aspect of their work environment, leading him to contemplate serving some of Susan’s female clients for more generous tips.
As Mike grapples with his burgeoning infatuation for Susan, he is painfully aware that she is already engaged to a wealthy young man named Chris. Complicating matters further, Mike discovers that Susan is cheating on Chris with his former physical education teacher, who inappropriately interacts with young girls under the guise of a swim instructor. Consumed by jealousy, Mike begins to trail Susan, attempting to disrupt her dates, which escalates into a chaotic scene at an adult movie theater, where he crosses boundaries that leave Susan furious yet somehow encouraging of his pursuit.
Despite relentless teasing from his peers, Susan’s jibes about his mother, and even an incident where she carelessly damages his bicycle, Mike remains steadfast in his infatuation. Rejecting alternate avenues for intimacy—such as with an ex-girlfriend and a prostitute offering discounts—he retrieves a life-sized cutout of a stripper resembling Susan during one of his stalking attempts. This moment ignites a dramatic encounter where he furiously confronts her on the London Underground, demanding answers and leading to a series of bizarre events.
The following morning, Mike creates havoc at a foot race orchestrated by the physical education teacher, culminating in vandalism against his car while Susan is at the wheel. This sets off a chain of events where a furious Susan strikes Mike, unintentionally dislodging a diamond from her engagement ring. In a frantic attempt to recover it, they wind up at the bathhouse to melt the surrounding snow, using electrical wiring to heat a kettle in the empty pool.
In an intense moment, while Susan steps away, Mike unearths the diamond and teasingly challenges Susan, insisting she undress before he hands it over. Ultimately, she succumbs and lies beside him in the pool, leading to a confusing sexual encounter that leaves Mike questioning his own performance.
The tranquility is shattered when Chris calls, prompting Susan to hurriedly dress and prepare to leave. Desperate for her to stay, Mike pursues her around the filling pool, his emotions spiraling out of control. This climax culminates in a dark twist when, in a fit of rage, he strikes her with a ceiling lamp, leading her to fall into the rising water below. As chaos reigns with water engulfing Susan and a live wire ominously hovering nearby, Mike mirrors the intimacy he once shared with the photo cutout, embracing her underwater, their fates intricately tied to the dangerous currents swirling around them.
Timeline
Mike Secures a Job
Mike, a troubled 15-year-old dropout, lands a job at a public bathhouse located in East London. This new position marks a significant turning point in his life, where he hopes to find direction and purpose despite his tumultuous past.
Introduction to Susan
At the bathhouse, Mike meets Susan, his co-worker who is ten years his senior. Susan's playful nature and duality of affection and manipulation deeply intrigue Mike, leaving him both enchanted and confused.
First Client Interaction
Mike's initiation into the job is unconventional, as a female client provocatively engages him in suggestive banter involving a famous football legend, George Best. This experience sets the tone for Mike's introduction to the complex dynamics of adult interactions within the bathhouse.
Mike's Conflicted Feelings
Despite the chaos of his job, Mike finds himself increasingly infatuated with Susan. He grapples with the painful realization that she is engaged to Chris, a wealthy young man, complicating his emotional state and desire for her affection.
Discovery of Susan's Infidelity
Mike learns that Susan is cheating on Chris with his former physical education teacher. This revelation fills Mike with jealousy and propels him to take action by following Susan and attempting to disrupt her dates.
Chaos at the Adult Movie Theater
During one of his stalking missions, Mike confronts Susan at an adult movie theater, resulting in a tumultuous scene. Although his emotions are high, Susan manages to maintain a sarcastic demeanor, both annoyed and intrigued by Mike's actions.
Bicycle Incident
After relentless teasing from his peers and an accident where Susan damages Mike's bicycle, the tension between them escalates further. However, Mike's feelings for Susan persist despite the lack of mutual understanding.
Retrieving the Stripper Cutout
In a desperate attempt to symbolize his affection, Mike retrieves a life-sized cutout of a stripper resembling Susan. When he confronts her with it on the London Underground, it spirals into a bizarre yet emotionally charged exchange.
Foot Race Havoc
Mike creates chaos during a foot race organized by the physical education teacher. His actions lead to vandalism and further escalate tensions between him and Susan, propelling their volatile relationship toward a breaking point.
The Diamond Incident
Following a heated argument, Susan accidentally loses a diamond from her engagement ring, prompting them to return to the bathhouse for recovery. In a frantic rush, they utilize electrical wiring to heat a kettle, showcasing the desperation of the moment.
Conflicted Intimacy
In a moment of intense emotion, Mike finds the diamond but challenges Susan to undress before returning it. This request leads to a complicated sexual encounter that profoundly affects Mike's self-image and understanding of intimacy.
Chris's Phone Call
The serene moment is shattered when Chris calls Susan, necessitating her quick scramble to leave. Faced with the imminent departure of the one he desires, Mike's emotions spiral out of control as he desperately tries to keep her from leaving.
Violent Confrontation
In a fit of rage, Mike strikes Susan with a ceiling lamp, causing her to fall into the rising water below. This act of desperation triggers a series of chaotic events that entwine their fates in a dramatic and tragic manner.
Final Embrace
As water engulfs Susan, Mike mirrors the earlier intimacy he shared with the photo cutout by embracing her underwater. This poignant moment crystallizes the complexities of their relationship and the dangers surrounding them, leaving their futures intertwined.
Characters
Mike
Mike is a troubled 15-year-old dropout who struggles to understand his feelings and the world around him. His infatuation with Susan leads him down a path of jealousy and chaos, leaving him conflicted between desire and morality. His character embodies the uncertainty and confusion of adolescence.
Susan
Susan is a compelling and complex character whose behavior oscillates between warmth and coldness, influencing Mike's teenage emotions significantly. Engaged to Chris but involved with another man, her actions demonstrate the complexities of adult relationships, reflecting both affection and manipulation.
Chris
Chris is the wealthy young man engaged to Susan, representing the societal pressures of status and expectation. His presence creates a love triangle that complicates Mike's feelings and heightens the tension in the narrative. Though less defined, he serves as a counterpoint to Mike's fervent emotions.
Setting
Time period
1970
The movie is set in the early 1970s, a time marked by cultural shifts and changing social norms around sexuality and relationships. This period witnessed the emergence of more liberal attitudes, yet it was also a time fraught with confusion and societal pressures, especially for young people.
Location
East London
East London is a diverse and vibrant area, known for its rich cultural history and urban landscape. The public bathhouse serves as a central setting in the movie, representing a social space where varied human interactions can unfold, reflecting both desire and manipulation.
Themes
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Infatuation
Infatuation is a central theme as Mike grapples with his overwhelming feelings for Susan. His intense emotions lead him to questionable decisions, highlighting the often irrational nature of young love. This theme explores the complexity of desire and the pain of unrequited affection.
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Betrayal
Betrayal permeates the interactions between characters, especially as Mike discovers Susan's infidelity. This theme evokes feelings of jealousy and anger, showcasing how trust can be easily shattered in relationships. It also reflects the chaotic emotional landscape Mike navigates.
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Danger
The motif of danger is prevalent throughout the film, culminating in a chaotic climax involving water and electrical hazards. This represents the perilous situations that arise from uncontrolled emotions and reckless behavior, serving as a metaphor for the characters' tumultuous lives.
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