THE SWIMMERS - INTERVIEW WITH MATTHIAS SCHWEIGHOFER, YUSRA MARDINI & SALLY EL HOSAINI

A remarkable true story of courage, true determination and passion is now streaming on Netflix.

The Swimmers had it’s International Premiere this past September at the Toronto International Film Festival and was a fitting choice to kick off the Festival as the opener.

It tells the story of Yusra (Nathalie Issa) and Sara Mardini (Manal Issa) have undergone rigorous swimming training with their father (Ali Suliman) 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. They board a small boat teeming with fellow refugees to cross a frequently lethal stretch of the Mediterranean sea, but their journey is far from over.

Real-life sisters Manal and Nathalie Issa are playing the sibling roles in The Swimmers. Manal Issa plays Sara, while Nathalie Issa is Yusra. This is the first global role for both sisters. 

Manal played Lina in the 2015 film Parisienne and starred in last year’s movie The Anger, about a young Lebanese girl who escapes from her small village and forms a relationship with a European man. She also starred in The Sea Ahead. Nathalie starred in the Syrian film My Favourite Fabric. 

Directed by Sally El Hosaini, this is a moving story of two young and tenacious female refugees, and their goals for a better life. German actor Matthias Schweighöfer, plays Sven Spannenkrebs who helped prepare Yusra to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

I spoke with Matthias Schweighofer, Sally El Hossaini and Yusra Mardini about this incredible journey.

The Swimmers is now streaming on Netflix - please enjoy both interviews in the playlist below.