Le Grand Bain (sink and swim 2018) with lots of trivia

 

Sink or Swim (or a similar synchronized swimming ensemble near-comic  drama) turns out to be a surprisingly rewarding cinematic experience once it finds its rhythm...  after the galf of time 

The film really comes into its own in the second half, where the narrative picks up momentum and delivers a deeply emotional payoff. The story centers on a ragtag group of middle-aged men—most of whom are struggling with long-term unemployment and a crushing lack of purpose—who unexpectedly band together to form an unlikely all-male synchronized swimming team.

At the heart of the narrative is the protagonist, who gradually comes to terms with his own severe depression. As he gets closer to his teammates, he realizes that he is far from alone in his pain; every single member of the group is privately battling their own silent crisis, weighed down by the harsh realities and disappointments of their personal lives. The pool becomes their sanctuary—a place where their shared struggles transform into a source of mutual support and unexpected camaraderie.

Admittedly, the film gets off to a rocky start. The setup in the first act is quite sluggish and drawn-out, which might test the patience of many viewers. Fortunately, I stuck with it, and my persistence was thoroughly rewarded by a final act that was genuinely uplifting and emotionally resonant. While the movie was officially marketed as a comedy, prospective viewers should be aware that it leans much more heavily into melancholic drama, offering only a few scattered moments of light relief.

In the end, this is an inspiring testament to human resilience, proving that life doesn't end at fifty and that middle-aged soul is full of heart and hidden strength. Despite being battered by severe life hardships, these men pull through together in a triumphant display of solidarity. Ultimately, it’s a moving journey that is well worth watching—provided you have the endurance to get past its slow beginning!

 

 

Appendix  with useful information on the movie  (and beyond)

 

Literal Meaning: The Deep End of the Pool

In its most direct sense, "le grand bain" refers to the main pool or the deepest part of a swimming pool, as opposed to "le petit bain" (the shallow end) . It's the area reserved for experienced swimmers.

Figurative Meaning: A Challenging New Situation

Figuratively, it means a difficult situation that you have no prior experience with—essentially being "thrown in at the deep end" . It describes the moment someone jumps into a challenging new endeavor, like starting a demanding job or a new phase of life, without being fully prepared.

The Title of the Film

For Gilles Lellouche's film Le Grand Bain (released in English as Sink or Swim), the title works perfectly on both levels. The characters literally jump into the "grand bain" (the deep pool) to train for synchronized swimming, while also metaphorically diving into a daunting new challenge to pull themselves out of their midlife crises.

Awards

At the 2019 César Awards, Le Grand Bain (The Grand Bath) received a total of 10 nominations but ultimately won only one award: Best Supporting Actor, presented to Philippe Katerine. (names as Thierry)

Beyond the Césars, the film also earned recognition at other ceremonies, winning Best Comedy and Best Actor in a Comedy (again for Philippe Katerine) at the Globe de Cristal Awards, as well as the TF1 Audience Award and the Director-Producer Award at the Trophées du Film Français. 

How the Cast of Sink or Swim Trained for the Film

Training: Starting in autumn 2016, actors Guillaume Canet, Mathieu Amalric, Benoît Poelvoorde, Philippe Katerine and others underwent intensive training for seven months at the French National Institute of Sport (INSEP), one to two times per week, under the guidance of Julie Fabre, a coach for the French national synchronized swimming team.

Stunt doubles: Professional stunt performers were used only for brief shots showing just the legs above the water, as such maneuvers are extremely difficult. In most synchronized swimming scenes, the actors themselves appear on screen.

Filming location: The "World Championship in Norway" scene was actually shot in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France—not in Norway.

Additional note: Director Gilles Lellouche revealed an interesting detail: one of the actors (Balasingham Thamilchelvan) could not even swim when he was cast, and another (Félix) was unable to put his head underwater. Both eventually completed filming through training.

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Julie Fabre Was Initially Hesitant

Julie Fabre was indeed initially hesitant and ambivalent about training these actors.

Why she was hesitant: As a coach for the French national synchronized swimming team, she was tasked with training a group of completely non-athletic, middle-aged male actors. She admitted in an interview: "At first I thought I would never be able to choreograph something that would hold together. I had no experience with the male body, let alone a non-athletic one." At the start of training, the situation was indeed quite chaotic—some could not swim, some were afraid to put their heads underwater, and there were health issues as well.

The shift in her attitude: However, her change of heart came quickly. According to multiple sources, about three weeks after training began, she told director Gilles Lellouche that "things can move forward." This happened because the actors trained very seriously, which surprised her. She later said in an interview that these actors "took the game seriously" and that the group had excellent cohesion—almost as if they were living the film's story in real life.