A Bigger Splash (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Paul drowns Harry during a heated confrontation by the pool after a night of drinking. The fight was triggered when Harry provoked Paul, who was already vulnerable from his alcohol addiction and recent suicide attempt. In a moment of desperation and rage, Paul holds Harry underwater, causing him to drown. Paul then attempts to resuscitate him but fails, watching helplessly as Harry's body sinks to the bottom of the pool.

Foreshadowing: Paul's underlying instability is established early in the film through his struggles with addiction and his suicide attempt.

• paul de smedt
• harry hawkes
• pool drowning
• murder
• character motivation

Marianne stops the intimacy with Harry because although she still has love for him, she is committed to her current boyfriend Paul. She explicitly tells Harry that she cannot be with him, choosing to honor her relationship with Paul despite her lingering feelings for her former lover. This decision highlights the complexity of her emotional conflict.

Foreshadowing: Marianne's past with Harry is established when he arrives as her former lover, setting up the tension between her past and present.

• marianne lane
• harry hawkes
• rejection
• commitment
• relationship decision

Pen lies about her age, claiming to be 22 when she is actually 17, likely to present herself as more mature and independent. This deception adds to her manipulative nature throughout the film. Her true age is eventually revealed late in the story, causing concern for Paul who worries about what she may have witnessed during his fight with Harry.

Foreshadowing: Pen's behavior throughout the film suggests she is younger than she claims, as she acts impulsively and emotionally.

• pen lanier
• penelope
• age lie
• deception
• character revelation

The police drop the investigation because they are distracted by a pressing emergency involving refugees washing ashore on the island. This urgent situation diverts their attention away from Harry's suspicious death. Additionally, Marianne and Paul provide alibis that initially satisfy the investigators, allowing them to avoid immediate suspicion.

Foreshadowing: The refugee emergency is introduced as a plot device that coincidentally protects Marianne and Paul from scrutiny.

• police investigation
• harry death
• refugees
• cover-up
• island emergency

After Paul drowns Harry, he immediately realizes the gravity of his actions and attempts to save him. He tries to resuscitate Harry but is unsuccessful. Paul later confesses to Marianne that he killed Harry but emphasizes that he tried to save him, showing his moment of regret and the conflict between his violent impulse and his desire to undo the damage.

Foreshadowing: Paul's guilt is foreshadowed by his troubled mental state and his struggle with violent impulses throughout the film.

• paul de smedt
• guilt
• attempted rescue
• confession
• remorse

Pen reveals her fluent Italian skills during the police questioning, shocking everyone since she had pretended not to understand the language throughout her stay. This revelation raises tensions because Paul realizes she may have overheard or witnessed more than initially thought during the confrontation with Harry. Her hidden language ability adds another layer of deception to her character.

Foreshadowing: Pen's silence and apparent lack of comprehension throughout the film subtly hint that she understands more than she lets on.

• pen lanier
• italian fluency
• hidden skills
• deception
• police questioning

Marianne slaps Pen at the airport after Pen makes a cryptic comment that references something Marianne once told Harry. This remark clearly disturbs Marianne, revealing that Pen knows more about Marianne's private conversations than she should. The slap represents Marianne's anger at being exposed and the unresolved tensions between the two women.

Foreshadowing: Marianne's private conversations with Harry establish what Pen could later use against her.

• marianne lane
• pen lanier
• airport confrontation
• slap
• secret exposure

The police stop Marianne and Paul's car as they drive away from the airport. However, instead of pursuing the investigation into Harry's death, the officer reveals himself to be a fan of Marianne and asks for her autograph. This surreal moment provides a darkly comic relief, showing how the couple escapes consequences through celebrity privilege.

Foreshadowing: Marianne's fame as a rock singer is established early in the film, making this encounter plausible.

• police stop
• fan
• autograph
• escape
• ending resolution

Pen attempts to seduce Paul after feeling neglected and disillusioned by her father's arrogance. She uses her captivating charm to pursue Paul, who is vulnerable due to his emotional struggles and alcohol issues. While the specific details are not shown, it is heavily implied that Paul succumbs to her advances, adding another layer of betrayal to the strained relationships.

Foreshadowing: Pen's manipulation of Paul is set up through her growing resentment of her father and her desire for attention.

• pen lanier
• paul de smedt
• seduction
• manipulation
• betrayal