The Swimmers Movie Review

Movie Name: The Swimmers (2022)

Director: Sally Al Hosaini

Genre: Drama/Sport

Country: United Kingdom; United States

Language: English, Arabic

 

This movie “Swimmers” directed by Sally Al Hosaini was released in November 11, 2022. The movie’s plot basically follows the real  life events of two young sisters from Syria, Yusra Mardini and Sara Mardini who flee their country in hopes of pursuing their childhood dream of competing in Rio Olympics as professional swimmers.

The movie revolves around the two sisters journey and starts with showing the day to day struggles they have to go through in the war torn Syria just like rest of the Syrian. But despite all this the Mardini family are still passionate about achieving their goals and are determined on pursuing their dreams despite the war going on in Syria. Amongst all the destruction and violence the father ( Ali Suliman) has trained his daughters to swim from childhood to become professional swimmers. As the war progresses and starts to become a threat to their lives, the sisters decide to flee the country thinking it as their only chance of ever being able to compete in the Olympics. After  successfully convincing their father both the sisters escape with their cousin on the dangerous journey to Europe. 

The journey comprises of hurdles and struggles both the sister face starting off first from Lebanon to turkey and then  with crossing the Mediterranean sea on a small boat with other refugees from different countries. Their trip across the Mediterranean sea becomes fatal when the already damaged boat’s engine stops and the sisters decide to swim to keeps others afloat. The hardship does not end with this, the sisters face all kinds of difficulties including rape but in the end they finally reach their destination, Germany. After that they somehow convince a swimming coach to help them and one of the sisters, Sara mardini decides to abandon help other refugees to flee their countries safely while yusra Mardini continues with her rigorous training and at last competes in the Olympics as a refugee in hopes that one day she will compete for her own country, Syria.

The entire cast of the swimmers did an absolutely remarkable job, specially the the actresses who play the role of Yusra Mardini and Sara Mardini did the perfect job of portraying the affection and love sisters have between them. The movie has captures the attention of the audience because of how well it has been directed. The struggles and hardships all refugees go through to make their lives a little less difficult were shown in this incredible master piece.