A Bigger Splash | |
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Directed by | Jack Hazan |
Written by |
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Produced by |
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Starring | David Hockney |
Cinematography | Jack Hazan |
Edited by | David Mingay |
Music by | Patrick Gowers |
Release dates |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | $95,826[1] |
A Bigger Splash is a 1973 British biographical documentary film about David Hockney's lingering breakup with his then-partner Peter Schlesinger, from 1970 to 1973. Directed by Jack Hazan and edited by David Mingay, it has music by Patrick Gowers. Featuring many of Hockney's circle,[2] it includes designers Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark,[3] artist Patrick Procktor, gallery owner John Kasmin and museum curator Henry Geldzahler.
It is a fly-on-the-wall documentary, intercut with fictionalised and fantasy elements.[4] It was a groundbreaking production at the time and remains notable for its treatment of gay themes and its insights into Hockney's life and work.[5][6] The film takes its title from the 1967 painting A Bigger Splash, perhaps Hockney's best-known Californian swimming pool picture[7] and his best-known artwork at all.[8] Hockney was initially shocked by its intimacy[9] but later changed his mind.[10]
A Bigger Splash was newly restored in 4k from the original camera negative by Metrograph[11] and released on Blu-Ray by Kino Lorber in 2020.