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The Swimmers Based on Syrian Refugees Yusra and Sarah Mardini Will Soon Have its European Premiere

A still from The Swimmers. Photo: Netflix

The highly awaited adaptation of the story of two Syrian sisters, Yusra and Sarah Mardini who rescued refugees from drowning will have its European premiere in Switzerland next month. Sally El Hossaini’s screenplay, titled The Swimmers, chronicles the journey of the sisters, who fled from a war-ravaged Syria to their success at the 2016 Rio Olympics after using their swimming prowess to save lives from a dangerous boat journey at sea.

The Egyptian-Welsh director’s film will open the 18th Zurich Film Festival on September 22, following its world premiere on the opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival 2022 in Canada on September 8. The movie is co-written by Jack Thorne, writer of Help and Enola Holmes, and produced by British creative outfit Working Title Films and Netflix. It was subsequently filmed in the UK, Belgium, and Turkey.

Yusra and Sarah Mardini. Photo: Getty

El Hosaini said she was delighted to share the “extraordinary true life story” of refugees with the European audience, especially at a time of growing hostility towards the immigrant community in the continent. “Never has there been such an important time for Europeans to see a film that elevates the visibility of refugees and honors those who risk their lives to have a better, safer life,” the 46-year-old said. The Swimmers’ artistic director Christian Jungen also said that the movie aptly shed light on the refugee situation while being “uplifting and inspiring” and called the film “deeply moving and timely”.

Lebanese actors Manal and Nathalie Issa, who are sisters in real life, play the character of Yusra and Sarah in the film. Ali Suliman, Ahmed Malek, Kinda Alloush, and James Krishna Floyd, who made an appearance in El Hosaini’s multi-award-winning My Brother the Devil, will also be a part of The Swimmers.

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