By Nada El-Margoushy
Sally El-Hosaini, an award-winning Egyptian Filmmaker and scenarist has yet again proven how talented she is in her latest movie “The swimmers”. The movie tells the story of the infamous Syrian Mardini sisters, Yusra and Sarah.
Their journey began after they fled the war-torn Damascus accompanied by their cousin, Nizar, portrayed by Egyptian rising star, Ahmed Malek, hoping to find refuge in Berlin, Germany.
Unfortunately, things did not go the way they planned; they lived through a series of mishaps starting from being robbed to being lost at sea, in addition to their boat sinking and finding no warm and safe haven to spend the night, which is presented in excruciating details in Sally’s film.
The cast was phenomenal, as they were able to depict the injustices of war and the pain and torment of the refugees on what seems like a “Journey from hell”. It featured actors from different countries making it one of the most successful collaborations.
The film was released on Netflix nearly 2 months ago and has since become viral on all social media websites, as fans shared their personal opinions and reviews of the movie, and even held open discussions.
“The Swimmers” was mostly well-received by audiences worldwide, the most popular opinion being that it was incredibly touching, the acting was top-notch, and the cinematography was outstanding.
Furthermore, it shed light on the Syrian crisis, being available on such a worldwide streaming service. The movie fans were also pleased with Yosra’s Victory, saying that it was like reliving her 2016 win in the Rio Olympics.
El- Hosaini is a London-born, Welch-Egyptian screenwriter and film director, whose talent has been recognized multiple times, throughout her Film career. Her debut feature film “My Brother the Devil” received several nominations and won awards internationally, including the 2013 Evening Standard Film Awards, 2012 Sundance Film Festival, 2012 Berlin International Film Festival, and 2012 BFI London Film Festival Awards, amongst others.
