Released: 11th November 2022 (UK and US)
Length: 134 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Sally El Hosaini
Starring: Nathalie Issa, Manal Issa, Ahmed Malek and Matthias Schweighöfer
The plight of refugees and displaced citizens is a difficult global challenge, one that persists through many modern conflicts. One perspective that stands out among the millions is Yusra Mardini, a Syrian who crossed the Aegean Sea and eventually competed in the Olympics Refugee Team. Directed by Sally El Hosaini, The Swimmers tells her story while conveying the plight of displacement in the process.
In 2011, the young swimmer (Nathalie Issa) witnesses the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, a conflict that quickly worsens over the next four years. As the danger rises, she chooses to leave with her sister Sara (Manal Issa) and cousin Nizar (Ahmed Malek), making the perilous crossing to Europe. With this highly contemporary context in place, The Swimmers is a heavy and sometimes harrowing tale. We follow the trio from the trek out of their home country all the way to Germany and eventually the Rio Olympics in 2016. The film never leaves the perspective of the refugees, providing a window into lives most of us never see. Another layer on top of this are the arguments and tensions between the characters. They disagree over methods of travel, push each other’s emotions to difficult places and question their own decisions along the way. Every element is built on very well realised interactions, making you care about those on the road to safety. Wisely, the film stays away from surrounding events in politics and doesn’t get bogged down in ethical debates; at its core The Swimmers is about people, rather than the overarching issues surrounding them. Be that as it may, the ending does feel a bit anaemic with Yusra’s ultimate achievement making less of an impact than the lead-up to it.
While the focus is mainly on Yusra, the bond between the three leads is always well conveyed and this shows through their contrasting personalities. Yusra is more cautious and anxious while her sister is more laidback and relaxed, even as they endure tough challenges together. The Swimmers takes the time to show these young people having moments to both reflect and have some light-hearted fun. This enhances the level of attachment with the audience and this also holds true for the side characters in the same boat. It all boils down to ordinary people who form connections with each other despite losing much of their stability and security. When the film reaches the final act and Yusra starts to train again, most of the characters are put aside; a shame as many are left in limbo in the asylum processing system. It would have generated greater intrigue to see how they busy themselves while attempting to build a new life for themselves. Yusra’s coach, Sven (Matthias Schweighöfer), comes late in the film and his interactions do feel rather basic as well. All of the performances convey a great deal of poignancy, but some feel like missed potential at points.
Every step of the way, The Swimmers commits to showing the difficult side of seeking asylum while also presenting Yusra’s training with a sense of determination. The use of multiple environments from Greek beaches to European forests, the mountain of life-jackets the refugees walk over and the deadly waters of the Mediterranean, all the locales have a great sense of realism. A range of skilful transitions and camera angles really gets across the tone of each scene with the biggest highlight being the strobe lighting used in the Aegean crossing. The sequence is dark, foreboding and chaotic, pulling the audience right into the fearful panic. Some background elements like westerners going about their business on holiday emphasise the distance between the two sides and the use of real-life footage is fairly straightforward; news broadcasts unfolding in the background and some videos from the Rio Olympics. This aids in laying out the setting and bolting on some additional detail for the characters to respond to. On occasion, the use of modern tracks can be overbearing, particularly David Guetta’s Titanum and Sia’s Unstoppable, but otherwise the sweeping orchestral pieces are a strong complement, especially in the most desperate moments.
Aside from a rushed conclusion, The Swimmers is a powerfully acted and beautifully presented struggle. The struggle it portrays feels human and authentic; by concentrating on Yusra, her siblings and all those forced to flee their homes, the film succeeds as an empathetic and inspirational biopic.
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)
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