SINK OR SWIM/ LE GRAND BAIN
France, 2018, 122 minutes, Colour.
Mathieu Amalric, Guillaume Canet, Benoit Poelvoorde, Jean-Hugues? Anglade, Philippe Ketterer, Virginie Efira, Marina Fois, Leila Bekhti.
Directed by Gilles Lellouche.
Two films about middle-aged men in synchronised swimming competitions from 2018-2019. Coincidence? There was the British Swimming with Men and this French comedy drama with its original French title, The Big Bath (or translation variations on the original).
In recent decades there have been some Men’s Movements, but synchronised swimming for older men seem something of a stretch.
In fact, it is not quite the stretch we might have anticipated.
Welshman Dylan Williams moved to Sweden in 2009 and became involved in this type of swimming. He made a documentary about it, Men Who Swim (2010). This led to the British film, Swimming with Men, with Williams himself serving as a producer. The French film derives from Williams’ documentary.
The film opens with Bertrand, Mathieu Amalric, depressed, idle at home, but, strangely, responding to an ad which invites men to join the swimming group. Talk about an unlikely collection! We learn some of their stories. Laurent, Guillaume Canet, is also depressed, separated from his wife, concerned about his son who stammers. Marcus (Benoit Poelvoorde, is something of a con man who has been bankrupt four times. Simon (Jean-Hugues Anglade) has 17 unreleased CDs, lives in a trailer and works in a school cafeteria. Thierry, Philippe Katterer, large, long hair compensating for his bald top, is a supervisor. There are a couple of other members of the team including a migrant who does not speak French. They are coached by a former synchronised swimmer, Delphine (Virginie Efira).
As we learn their stories, some of the men come across sympathetically, others a bit irritating and annoying. They do get a possibility for performing to mild applause. But, as with all these films, they discover a competition, acquire a wheelchair bound martinet coach, Amanda (Leila Bekhti), who makes them exercise, long runs, creating a water choreography (and there is an image of Esther Williams!) as well as making them really exasperated with her.
We don’t have to be major film critics to anticipate what is going to happen – and it does.
In fact, their final performance at the competition in Norway is quite spectacular in itself. There are also some sequences with swimmers from other countries.
While this story is French, British audiences seem to love this kind of film – and this takes us back 20 years to Brassed Off and its band, and, of course, The Full Monty!
Although it is based on reality, the story has more than a touch of fantasy – but offering some hope and some inspiration for men who are not as young as they used to be let alone as agile as they used to be.
1. A popular film in France? From a British story?
2. Films about middle-aged men, coming out of themselves, competitiveness, skills, The Full Monty, Brassed Off?
3. The original documentary, Dylan Williams and his experience, producing the British film? The influence on this French film?
4. The idea, actual events? 21st-century, interest in men and their therapy, men’s groups?
5. The focus on Bertrand, depressed, wife and children, not having a job, waking, idling at home, seeing the ad, the application? Getting the job in the furniture shop, not being successful, clashing with the owner, the literal fight?
6. Laurent, separated from his wife, depressed, his son, the interview at school and his stammer, advising him to go to drama school, parenting his son, the painting of the wall, bonding?
7. Simon, the singer, 17 CDs and no hits, living in the caravan, his relationship with his daughter, her spurning him, his job at the school, cleaning the tables? His daughter ignoring him, giving her the gift, her receiving it? His optimistic philosophy of life, his dreams?
8. Marcus, his work, selling pools, obnoxious personality, going bankrupt four times, care-less? Casual treatment of his assistant, not signing the cheque for his wages?
9. Thierry, stubby, his hair, supervisor, gawky, bonding with the men, cheerful, friendship, with Delphine?
10. The other members of the group, not given such prominence, the Asian man and his poor French, John joining the group?
11. Delphine, the background story, her skills, her patience with the group, her alcoholic problems, the enmity with her former partner? Going to AA?
12. Amanda, her past, in her chair, clash with Delphine? Her taking over, a martinet, the men in the pool, severe running, exercise, the different moods, choreography, exasperating the men, tipping her in the pool? Her locking them in the sauna?
13. The practice, performance, news of the competition, the various moves in rehearsals, the demands?
14. The decision to go to Norway, Claire and her husband, the clash with the in-laws in the supermarket? Simon’s daughter and her travelling with the group in the caravan? The family watching the competition on television, at the furniture store?
15. The travel, the scenery, Norway?
16. The range of competitors, different countries, the performances, the judges, the crowd?
17. The men, nerves, reactions, the performance, the skills, the applause?
18. Coming home, the news and the papers? The film showing each of the men, the medals, acclaim, reconciliations with family?
19. 21st-century story about men and their personalities, places society
