IMDb 6.9 2018 HD

Sink or Swim

Sink or Swim

2018
Comedy Drama
122 min NR BE
6.921 / 10
6.9 IMDB

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…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Christian Alzieu / Gilles Lellouche
Starring
Mathieu Amalric / Guillaume Canet / Benoît Poelvoorde / Jean-Hugues Anglade / Virginie Efira / Leïla Bekhti / Marina Foïs / Philippe Katerine

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

poignant hopeful character-driven understated charming melancholic quirky uplifting sensitive relatable touching French

Reviews

C
Chloe Williams
Apr 11, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that champions the unexpected pathways to healing. 'Sink or Swim' introduces us to Bertrand, a man suffocated by depression, who finds an unlikely lifeline in a synchronised swimming team. Mathieu Amalric’s performance is the…

D
David Lee
Apr 11, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Sink or Swim' offers a familiar premise: a man finding solace and purpose in an unusual group activity. Bertrand's struggle with depression is the narrative engine, and Mathieu Amalric capably embodies his quiet despair. The film’s charm lies…

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 11, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

In 'Sink or Swim', the seemingly simple act of synchronised swimming becomes a powerful metaphor for finding order and connection amidst life’s chaos. Bertrand, portrayed with remarkable vulnerability by Mathieu Amalric, is a man at his lowest ebb,…

M
Marcus Thorne
Apr 11, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Director unknown, but the guiding hand behind 'Sink or Swim' clearly understands the nuances of human struggle with a touch of Gallic wit. The narrative, following Bertrand’s battle with depression and his subsequent immersion in a synchronised swimming…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 11, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Mathieu Amalric delivers a quietly compelling performance as Bertrand, a man adrift in the doldrums of depression. His descent into the unlikely world of synchronised swimming is handled with a sensitivity that avoids sentimentality. The film’s strength lies…

FAQs

The film possesses a tone that is both melancholic and hopeful, characteristic of many French cinematic explorations of human frailty. It doesn't shy away from the weight of Bertrand's depression but imbues his journey with a gentle, often quirky, sense of optimism. The synchronised swimming aspect introduces an element of absurdity and charm, balancing the more serious undertones with a light touch.