The eagerly anticipated film adaptation of the heroic true story of two Syrian sisters who saved refugees from drowning will have its European premiere in Switzerland next month.
Sally El Hosaini’s drama The Swimmers follows the journey of Yusra and Sara Mardini from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics after using their swimming skills to save lives following a treacherous boat journey at sea.
The feature from the Egyptian-Welsh filmmaker will open the 18th Zurich Film Festival on September 22, following its world premiere at the opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival 2022 in Canada on September 8.
Co-written by Jack Thorne (of Help, Enola Holmes and Wonder fame), The Swimmers is produced by British creative outfit Working Title Films and Netflix. It was shot in the UK, Belgium and Turkey.
El Hosaini said she was thrilled to share the “extraordinary true life story” of refugees with a European audience at a time of growing anti-immigration sentiment on the continent.
“Never has there been such an important time for Europeans to see a film that elevates the visibility of refugees and honours those who risk their lives to have a better, safer life,” the filmmaker said.
Calling the film “deeply moving and timely”, The Swimmers’ artistic director Christian Jungen said it shone a light on the refugee crisis while also being “uplifting and inspiring”.
The Mardini sisters fled Syria in 2015 after their house was destroyed in the civil war, making their way first to neighbouring Lebanon and on to Turkey, where they arranged to be smuggled into Greece by dinghy.
They became internationally recognised heroines when, in the middle of the Aegean Sea, the motor of the overcrowded dinghy they were on cut out 15 minutes into the trip and the sisters swam for three and a half hours holding the boat up to stop it from capsizing.
They later settled in Germany, where Yusra started training again with coach Sven Spannekrebs before competing at the 2016 Olympic Games as part of the Refugee Olympic Team.
Lebanese actresses Manal and Nathalie Issa, who are sisters in real life, portray Yusra and Sarah in the film.
Ali Suliman, Ahmed Malek, Kinda Alloush and James Krishna Floyd, who also appeared in El Hosaini’s multi-award-winning My Brother the Devil, will star in the film.
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
