Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
40-year-old Bertrand has been suffering from depression for the last two years and is barely able to keep his head above water. Despite the medication he gulps down all day, every day, and his wife's encouragement, he is unable to find any meaning in his life. Curiously, he will end up finding this sense of purpose at the swimming pool, by joining an all-male synchronised swimming team.
Sink or Swim is a warm, crowd-pleasing French comedy-drama that hits its emotional beats reliably. The premise of middle-aged depressed men finding camaraderie through synchronized swimming is charming and the ensemble cast performs capably, with Mathieu Amalric bringing genuine nuance to the lead role. Visually the film is competent but unremarkable, and while the concept has freshness to it, the story follows a fairly predictable underdog/redemption arc. The ending is uplifting and satisfying without being especially surprising. A solid, enjoyable film that earns its modest reputation without excelling in any single dimension.