The Swimmers, the soul-touching story of Yusra and Sara Mardini told through a commercial lens

Frank Film Club with Maisie Williams

In this episode, we are looking at the Netflix film, The Swimmers (2022). Directed by Sally El Hosaini, the film tells the true story of sisters, Yusra and Sara Mardini, who fled Syria before going on to compete at the Rio Olympic Games. It stars Nathalie Issa, Manal Issa, Matthias Schweighofer, Ahmed Mared & James Floyd.

We discuss how the rights to the film were acquired and how the real sisters were involved in the making of the film, creating commercial work for wider audiences, the casting and music of the project and how they balanced the harrowing scenes with uplifting moments.

You can learn more and support Sara Mardini here:

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/2019/05/02/refugee-volunteer-prisoner-sarah-mardini-and-europe-s-hardening-line-migration

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/sara-mardini

Join us next week when we’ll be discussing She Said (2022), directed by Maria Schrader. She Said is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube and is still in a select few cinemas.

A full transcript of this episode can be found here.

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