The Swimmers (2022)
76%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Sally El Hosaini’s The Swimmers is a cinematic masterpiece that tells the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini’s fight for survival and their journey to achieve the impossible. The film is a poignant reminder that not all heroes wear capes, some wear swimming caps, and that it is a human right to live safely, no matter where you come from. The Swimmers is a long but engaging drama that tackles an important and prescient subject, especially considering the ever-increasing numbers of asylum seekers crossing seas in dangerous circumstances. The film’s harrowing and powerful story will leave you inspired and moved, and if you watch The Swimmers and are not jarred into taking action, you might want to check your pulse.
The Swimmers is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel inspired all at once. It tells the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, two sisters who fought to survive and achieve their dreams. While some critics found the film to be a bit too formulaic, others praised its powerful message and emotional impact. Regardless of what you think of the movie, one thing is clear: it’s a must-watch for anyone who cares about human rights and the plight of refugees around the world. So grab some popcorn, get comfortable, and prepare to be moved by this incredible story of courage and resilience.
Production Company(ies)
Foreign Language, Inspirational, Netflix, Sister, Topical, Working Title
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
London, England, United Kingdom; Turkey; Belgium; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Berlin, Germany; Greece; Syrian Arab Republic; London M25 Loop, England, United Kingdom
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
2022
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:2h 14m
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Language(s):English, Arabic
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Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2022 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 23, 2022
Genre(s)
Drama/Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Nathalie Issa, Manal Issa, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Nahel Tzegai, directed by Sally El Hosaini, written by Jack Thorne, Sally El Hosaini, drama, biography, sports, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Monica Castillo, Ben Kenigsberg, Shubhra Gupta, Hanna Flint, Lou Thomas, Wendy Ide, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Marshall Shaffer, Ross Bonaime, Romey Norton, Mark Dujsik, Alex Maidy, Yusra Mardini, Sarah Mardini, refugees, champion swimming skills, war-torn Syria, 2016 Rio Olympics, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tim Cole, Ali Jaafar, Dolby Digital, Netflix, thematic material, language, some violence, sexual assault
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,618
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,385,000
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Manal Issa – Sarah Mardini
Matthias Schweighöfer – Self
Ahmed Malek – Self
James Krishna Floyd – Self
Nahel Tzegai – Self
Director – Sally El Hosaini
Producers – Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tim Cole, Ali Jaafar
Writers – Jack Thorne, Sally El Hosaini
Director(s)
Sally El Hosaini
Writer(s)
Jack Thorne, Sally El Hosaini
Producer(s)
Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tim Cole, Ali Jaafar
Film Festivals
Berlin, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (37) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (8)
Based on the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, Sally El Hosaini’s The Swimmers is a touching portrait of their fight to survive and achieve the impossible.
November 24, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Monica Castillo
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
“The Swimmers” tells this story as an inspirational (but rarely sugarcoated) crowd-pleaser. Within those terms, it hits its marks.
November 23, 2022
Ben Kenigsberg
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
You are able to ignore the film’s occasional flat, underlined patches because of its harrowing, powerful story.
November 22, 2022
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
Not all heroes wear capes, some wear swimming caps – and The Swimmers is an empowering reminder that it is a human right to live safely, no matter where you come from.
November 16, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Hanna Flint
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A long, sometimes broad film, but one that tackles an important and prescient subject, especially considering the ever-increasing numbers of asylum seekers crossing seas in dangerous circumstances.
November 13, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Lou Thomas
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This is fiercely powerful film-making that is slightly undermined by the banality of the by-numbers feelgood ending.
November 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s an engaging drama filled with as much joy as heartbreak and pain.
November 24, 2022
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Hammer to Nail
The film slowly goes from being something quite special to something quite ordinary.
November 23, 2022
Marshall Shaffer
Decider
But The Swimmers only occasionally gives this story the power that it needs, instead, falling into easy tropes and an unfocused narrative.
November 23, 2022 | Rating: C
Ross Bonaime
Collider
Netflix is becoming a streaming service for untold, unbelievable stories and this film is certainly a must-watch.
November 23, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Romey Norton
Ready Steady Cut
The emotional highpoint of The Swimmers arrives relatively early. After it does, there’s little that seems as consequential…
November 23, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies
Filmed in the actual locations Yusra and Sara traversed, this is an inspiring film that deserves to be watched by as many people as possible. If you watch The Swimmers and are not jarred into taking action, I would be very surprised.
November 22, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Alex Maidy
JoBlo’s Movie Network…
Plot
The true story of sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini, who fled war-torn Syria to seek a new life in Europe and earn the chance to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Accompanied by their cousin, they escape first to Lebanon, then Turkey, where they board a small boat teeming with fellow refugees to cross a frequently lethal stretch of the Mediterranean sea.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Matthias Schweighöfer plays the character Sven in The Swimmers.
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