David Farnor | On 02, Nov 2022

While the sporting world turns its gaze to the World Cup this November, Netflix is looking back at a feel-good story from 2016, when a pair of sisters fled war-torn Syria and ended up competing in the Olympics.

Directed by Sally El Hosaini, The Swimmers dramatises the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, who sought a new life in Europe and earnt the chance to compete in the Olympics. Yusra and Sara have pursued rigorous swimming training with their father since childhood. By 2015, with Syria’s devastating civil war escalating, their dreams of Olympic gold are quickly fading. They decide to risk the perilous journey to Europe. Accompanied by their cousin (Ahmed Malek), they escape first to Lebanon, then Turkey. Then, they board a small boat teeming with fellow refugees to cross a frequently lethal stretch of the Mediterranean sea. Their journey is far from over.

Written by Jack Thorne, the inspiring story of two young women refugees reaching for a better life stars Manal Issa, Nathalie Issac and Matthias Schweighöfer. You can see them in action on 23rd November, when the film dives onto Netflix.

Here’s the trailer:

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