Sink or Swim

Bertrand, a 40 year old man, has been wrestling with a heavy fog of depression for two years. Medication helps little, and each day blends into the next as he questions what gives life any meaning. His wife offers support, but the ache remains. An unexpected turn comes at the neighborhood pool, where he stumbles into an all male synchronised swimming team. Training is a challenge, but the unlikely group and the strange discipline unlock small moments of achievement and connection. As he learns new strokes and faces his own fear, Bertrand begins to glimpse a purpose beyond routine. The pool becomes a space where humor and honesty start to replace resignation.

Directed by Gilles Lellouche, the film draws from an original screenplay by Julien Lambroschini and Ahmed Hamidi. A 2018 French drama comedy, it blends heartfelt moments with sharp banter as a story about male friendship and personal renewal.

The premise of an all male synchronized swimming group in a French setting gives the film a distinctive place in contemporary cinema. It treats mental health with warmth and humor rather than clinical distance, inviting conversations about vulnerability and masculine identity. Scenes at the pool linger in memory for their awkward grace, making the sport feel both ridiculous and redemptive. It resonated with viewers seeking hopeful portrayals of self reinvention.

Critically the film was noted for balancing comedy with a serious topic without tipping into sentimentality. Performances, especially by Amalric and Canet, bring quiet complexity to men who talk and hurt in small ways. The central theme is recovery through community and practice rather than dramatic gestures. The story explores how a midlife crisis can open to new passions, friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose, and it treats depression not as a punchline but as a real challenge that can be met with care, humor, and persistence.