A group of troubled men uses synchronized swimming to confront isolation, addiction, damaged self-worth, and the need for belonging.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Lives Underwater
Bertrand and Laurent struggle with depression, unemployment, and damaged personal lives. The swimming pool emerges as the setting for a possible new direction.
Key Events
Bertrand's Depression — Bertrand's depression and suicidal tendencies strain his marriage to Claire. Characters: Bertrand, ClaireLocation: Bertrand's home
Laurent's Personal Crisis — Laurent faces unemployment and the absence of his wife. Characters: LaurentLocation: Laurent's daily life
The Training Pool — The pool is the training base for the men's synchronized swimming project. Characters: Amanda, Bertrand, LaurentLocation: Swimming pool
A Team Takes Shape
Marcus drives the creation of a men's synchronized swimming team. Bertrand, Laurent, Simon, and Thierry join, bringing distinct personal difficulties into the group.
Key Events
Marcus Creates The Team — Marcus drives the creation of the men's synchronized swimming team. Characters: MarcusLocation: Swimming pool
Bertrand Joins — Bertrand joins the team while struggling with severe depression. Characters: Bertrand, MarcusLocation: Swimming pool
Laurent Joins — Laurent joins the team during a period of unemployment and low self-esteem. Characters: Laurent, MarcusLocation: Swimming pool
Thierry Finds Belonging — Thierry joins the team, where the profile says he finds a sense of belonging. Characters: ThierryLocation: Swimming pool
Simon Enters The Team — Simon, a fallen rock star and alcoholic, becomes a team member. Characters: SimonLocation: Swimming pool
Learning To Stay Afloat
Delphine becomes the team's coach while confronting her own alcoholism. Amanda supports the project, and the members begin using the team to face their personal struggles.
Key Events
Delphine Takes The Role — Former champion Delphine becomes coach of the men's team. Characters: Delphine, Bertrand, Laurent, Marcus, Simon, ThierryLocation: Swimming pool
Amanda Offers Support — Amanda supports the team's swimming project at the training pool. Characters: Amanda, Delphine, Bertrand, LaurentLocation: Swimming pool
Delphine Confronts Alcoholism — Delphine attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings while coaching the team. Characters: DelphineLocation: Alcoholics Anonymous meeting
Simon Faces His Past — Simon uses team participation to confront his difficult past. Characters: Simon, DelphineLocation: Swimming pool
Purpose In Formation
The team's shared endeavor intensifies as Marcus pursues former glory and the other members seek belonging or recovery. Bertrand gradually finds renewed purpose through participation.
Key Events
Marcus Chases Former Glory — Marcus's competitiveness reflects his desire to relive past swimming glory. Characters: Marcus, Delphine, Bertrand, LaurentLocation: Swimming pool
The Team Builds Purpose — The team combines personal struggles with a shared swimming endeavor. Characters: Bertrand, Laurent, Marcus, Simon, Thierry, Delphine, AmandaLocation: Swimming pool
Bertrand Regains Self-Worth — Through the team, Bertrand finds a new sense of purpose. Characters: Bertrand, ClaireLocation: Bertrand's personal life
Story Breakdown
Bertrand's Despair — Bertrand begins from a state of severe depression and suicidal tendencies.
Strained Marriage — Claire struggles to cope with Bertrand's mental state.
Search For Purpose — Bertrand needs a new direction in life.
Laurent's Collapse — Laurent faces unemployment, abandonment, and damaged self-esteem.
Unemployment — Laurent is struggling to find work.
Team Rebuilding — Joining the team gradually helps rebuild his self-esteem.
Team Formation — Marcus drives the creation of the men's synchronized swimming group.
Marcus Leads — Marcus is the driving force behind the project.
Members Gather — Bertrand, Laurent, Simon, and Thierry join the team.
Delphine's Coaching — A former champion takes responsibility for guiding the men's team.
Reluctant Coach — Delphine is initially reluctant to coach.
Recovery Effort — She attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings while becoming invested in the team.
Shared Vulnerability — The team gathers men whose personal crises shape their participation.
Simon's Past — Simon confronts his past through team participation.
Thierry's Belonging — The team gives Thierry a sense of belonging.
Poolside Support — The swimming pool becomes the practical and emotional center of the project.
Amanda Helps — Amanda supports the project at the training pool.
Collective Endeavor — The members build a shared purpose through synchronized swimming.
Renewed Purpose — Participation gives the troubled characters a basis for hope and self-respect.
Bertrand Changes — Bertrand finds a new sense of purpose through the team.
Group Resilience — The team's support connects several damaged lives.
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.
