Taking its title from David Hockney’s famous pop art painting, A Bigger Splash portrays the life and creative process of the British artist during a particularly tumultuous period. Mixing elements of documentary and fiction, the film, set in the art scene of the 1960s and 1970s, portrays Hockney’s emotional struggles after the end of his relationship with Peter Schlesinger, his lover and model. At the time of its release, the film was surprising for its treatment of homosexuality and its intimate portrait of Hockney, exploring themes such as love, loss and a lack of artistic inspiration.