Swimming With Men

Swimming With Men (Oliver Parker, 2018) may not be the most groundbreaking of films. It’s story follows a well trodden path, but of course does not tread water (boom-boom). Our hero is Eric (Rob Bryson) who we see from the beginning is an accountant that takes solace from his swim in the pool at the end of the working day. It seems that life has little meaning, his wife (Jane Horrocks)  is moving in different circles as she’s a newly elected councillor and seems to have more purpose in her life than he does, along with different priorities.

Being an accountant, Eric is course good with numbers and calculation. It’s this prowess that introduces him to a group of male synchronised swimmers that he meets at the pool. They are having problems with a routine and Eric point out that there is a mathematical solution in that they need an even number of swimmers to succeed, so they should lose a man from the group. The swimmers discover that Eric’s personal circumstances have taken a turn for the worse. This leads to them eventually deciding that they need to increase their number for the routine to succeed. The group then recruits Eric so that they can save the routine and save him at the same time

There then follows a charming film about group dynamics, striving for a common goal and navigating your way through life. Eric finds that there is a Fight Club style element to the group. The first rule, he finds, is not to talk about swim club. It’s more than that though, it’s about brotherhood and moving away from mid life drift and ennui. The film therefore gives us an equation as to how one might stave off a lonely death, do stuff. Find something to do, preferably with other people, there’s possible longevity in common purpose. There’s charm in this story and this film and an emotional maturity as well, it’s worth taking the initial dip and immersing yourself in this.