Watch The Swimmer

The Swimmer is a dramatic film that focuses on Connecticut businessman Ned Merrill, whom the audience first meets attending a pool party hosted by his wealthy neighbors. After realizing that a series of backyard swimming pools create a way for Merrill to actually swim home from the party, he begins a surreal journey by diving into their pool, swimming to the other end, and making his way toward the pool next door to continue his journey. The motley assortment of people that Merrill meets along the way show the crass materialism of the late 1960s, with each individual reminding Merrill of some past incident he would prefer to remember differently. As Merrill continues to swim his way toward home, the treatment he receives from the people he encounters gets harsher and darker. Merrill becomes increasingly confused and upset by comments made by many people he meets that don't mesh with his version of reality. But the ultimate shock is yet to come when Merrill finally swims the last length of the final pool in his path before he arrives at the front door of his house.