Beautiful like a rainbow and as real as a synthetic diamond, "A Bigger Splash" predicts the onslaught of reality TV that flooded our screens in the early 90s and never really went away. Half-dramatized sequences from David Hockney’s glittery life at the height of his power, infiltrate the Swinging London scene without a care in the world. Immaculate Californian boys, fashions shows, turquoise swimming pools and – at the bleeding heart of it all – a breakup that left such an indelible mark on Hockney’s life that he offered director Jack Hazan £20,000 to destroy the devastatingly beautiful 35mm prints of the film. Lucky for us, he didn’t give in to the temptation, bequeathing world cinema with a refreshing documentary that still feels like a tall drink of water on a blistering summer day.
Jack Hazan
Born in Manchester in 1939, he studied at UCLA and joined the BBC in the early 60s. He directed two shorts, "Grant North" (1969) and "Especially at My Time of Life" (1969), focused on artists. His portrais of David Hockney, "A Bigger Splash" (1974), and The Clash, "Rude Boy" (1980), fused documentary and fiction and were technically and conceptually groundbreaking.
