It’s unusual to encounter someone like Ned (Burt Lancaster) returning after an absence, particularly when he's wearing nothing but swim trunks and taking a dip in his neighbors' pool. Through conversation, it becomes clear that he can essentially swim home, navigating through the pools of various acquaintances, friends, and even a public swimming area—with just a few land crossings to manage. The film then chronicles this unusual trip as it introduces us to his community and reveals aspects of his own complex and vibrant history. I could easily overanalyze what each encounter signifies for Ned, those he meets, and the audience; an exploration of that kind would certainly be fitting given that the story is based on a rather somber Cheever short story. However, I felt this was primarily a showcase for Lancaster, who appeared in many excellent films during his career. Here, with him almost entirely in swimwear, and his emotional state similarly exposed, we gradually gain insight into his character's experiences and perhaps even speculate about his future path. Kim Hunter is memorable among the supporting actors, though I don’t think anyone surpasses the others; they all perform their roles adequately, providing a range of potential explanations for Ned’s present and past actions. The film concludes with a particularly moving scene, and as an inventive and imaginative piece of cinema, it's hard to find anything quite like it.

Source on TMDB