Zurich Film Festival opens with a moving refugee drama
The 18th Zurich Film Festival opens with “The Swimmers” and shows the story of two Syrian girls who have to flee their homeland.
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the essentials in brief
- Sisters Yusra and Sarah are both swimmers from Syria.
- When war breaks out in their homeland, they have to build a new life for themselves.
- This film will be shown at the Zurich Film Festival. The festival lasts from 22.9. until 2.10.
Sally El Hosaini’s British drama «The Swimmers» is based on a true story. It is about the two sisters Yusra and Sarah, who come from Syria and are both talented swimmers.
The touching drama will be shown as the opening film at the Zurich Film Festival. The German star actor Matthias Schweighöfer can also be seen in another role.
Dangerous escape to Europe
In 2015, the two athletes had to leave their war-ravaged homeland of Syria. The war at this time peaks and drives thousands of people abroad.
The two sisters undertake a daring crossing to Europe on a motorboat. But tragically, the motor glove breaks at sea. The fugitives are in imminent danger of death.
A heroic act saves countless lives
But Yusra and Sarah have an iron will to survive and manage the impossible. The girls pull the boat on a rope for several hours. So she saves her life and that of the others.
After a dramatic and exhausting escape, the sister eyelets manage to reach their new home in Germany. They don’t want to give up their dream of swimming there either. The two set it as their goal to take part in the Olympic Games in Brazil.
For their heroic deeds and their extraordinary talent, the young women reap great admiration, which continues to this day.
Hosaini’s work touches and evokes dramatic scenes from the year 2015. The sensitive drama has already played at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“The Swimmers” at the Zurich Film Festival
Country: Great Britain 2022
Genre: Drama
Season at the Zurich Film Festival:
25 Sept 9:00 p.m. Arena 4,
01. Oct. 18:30 in the parade.
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