College ends, and that famous poolside silence sets in. This existential stifling under the Los Angeles sun spreads across the center of the room, mirroring a young man’s sense of not knowing what to do. In this blend of drama and comedy, Mike Nichols focuses on the comfortable numbness of a futureless existence and the silence of the suburbs. The fake and cloying intimacy of the adult world casts a shadow over the cool waters of the home pool. This coming-of-age story, woven around a love triangle, never loses its daring tone that clashes with convention. That peculiar in-between state in which the young man finds himself trapped leaves the audience right in the midst of the same unease.

Won 1 Oscar. 22 wins & 17 nominations total