MovieChat Forums > The Swimmer (1968) Discussion > forgotten past

forgotten past

posted 15 years ago by ubiquitous_diabolus
5 replies | jump to latest

It seems that in this movie, Burt Lancaster's character, Neddy, has forgotten who he once was. It is though he abandoned his family, friends and lovers a couple years ago and recently suffered a bout of amnesia. Although he can remember everybody he meets, he seems to have forgotten the damage he has done to those that cared about him. He slowly descends into a sort of madness when the realization of who he once was begins to deepen, and he is left with the aftermath.

Also, notice that the movie starts on a beautiful mid-summer day and ends on an inclement, fall afternoon with fallen leaves on the ground. This sort of goes with the changing mood of the film.

[–] gnolti 15 years ago

That about sums it up. And you could say that amnesia itself is a kind of madness.

There, daddy, do I get a gold star?

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

I love how this movie begins all sunny and hopeful and gradually descends into madness and desperation. I don't think anything here is meant to be taken as literally as amnesia, which would make this film too conventional for my tastes. Rather, this is a meditation on identity, denial, and the road not taken (as well as the road that was taken).

It appears to me that Neddy made some mistakes in his life, and rather than confronting them and making amends, he chose to look away and ignore the costs of his actions. Ultimately his past caught up with him, and his earlier mistakes became major traumas for him.

This film offers much for us to reflect on in our own lives -- now or later.

[–] gain-6 15 years ago

20 + years after this movie was made so many people have experienced a family member or friend who has suffered from Alzheimer & Dementia resulting in an added subtext to the story.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

Interesting point about Alzheimer's. Though the diagnosis wasn't common when this film was maid, you could interpret the Swimmer as a elderly man trying to regain his memory, and having a great deal of difficulty at the end.

[–] bhoover247 15 years ago

The Swimmer could also be interpreted as a man trying the Zen way of life. Not dwelling on the past but trying to be in tune with the present. The swimmer finds out that in reality that is not easy to do if you continue to come in contact with people from your past that have no wish to forget the past.