#TIFF22: “THE SWIMMERS”

By Amanda Gilmore

This Film tells the true story of swimming sisters Yusra (Nathalie Issa) and Sara Mardini (Manal Issa), who fled their home in war-torn Damascus to start a new life in Europe. Their goal was to make it to Germany, apply for an application to get their family to join them and earn a chance to compete in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

The Swimmers is an inspirational story that has the ability to change people’s minds. Director Sally El Hosaini brings us into the life of the sisters during their time in Syria. They go to nightclubs and compete in their local swimming competitions. However, these scenes quickly turn. At the nightclub bombs go off in the distance and while Yusra is competing a bomb lands inside the pool. The striking imagery that Hosaini creates shows us the daily, constant threat posed to the people of Syria.

The strongest part of the Film is the journey the sisters take with their cousin (Ahmed Malek). Here, audiences see the horrors refugees endure on their quests for a better life. We watch as the sisters and their cousin, along with a group of refugees, must put their trust in strangers and the dangers of their journeys. The refugee story doesn’t end when the sisters arrive in Germany. We are taken into a camp and shown how they must live there.

The chemistry between real-life sisters Nathalie and Manal brings this inspirational story to the screen. When we get to the third act, the Mardini sisters begin chasing different dreams. Yusra still lives and breathes swimming. However, Sara goes in search of her true calling. Nathalie and Manal’s real sisterhood translates into their emotionally rich intimacy on screen.

The Swimmers screens as follows at TIFF ’22:

Thu, Sep 8 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre 6:00 pm

Thu, Sep 8 IN-PERSON at Roy Thompson Hall at 8:00 pm

Fri, Sep 9 IN-PERSON at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 12:00 pm

Sat, Sep 17 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 3:00 pm