Swimmers ★★★
BIOGRAPHY (2022)
Directed by: Sali El Hosseini
Interpretations: Manal Isa, Natalie Isa

The true story of two Syrian girls who escaped the bombs of war and pursued their dream of participating in the Olympic Games has been brought to the Netflix screen. Sarah and Yusra have been training since childhood to become champion swimmers. Especially the second one records excellent performances, but the fire of war will overtake her and force her to go on a dangerous refugee journey with her sister to get to Europe.

The film begins in a bombed-out and sniper-strewn Damascus, but soon shifts to the street. The two sisters arrive in Constantinople and from there find a human trafficker to cross over to Lesvos, after which, worse, they are loaded into an inflatable boat full of extras. In the end, they will swim most of the route. Golgotha ​​will continue with a campaign through Greece – in general, the image of our country has developed not only as a hospitable one – through the Balkans and Hungary up to Berlin. There, an active coach will revive the dream of the Games. The Netflix film bets on realism, telling an almost unbelievable story that is, however, only a mosaic – albeit a vivid one – in the refugee drama.

Missing folder ★★★
MYSTERIOUS THRILLER
Directed by: Eric Zonka
InterpretationsCast: Vincent Cassel, Romain Durie

On the Ertflix platform, we choose a French detective thriller that seems more than interesting thanks to the dominant presence of Vincent Cassel, who takes it almost entirely on his shoulders. Danny, a teenage son from a dysfunctional family, mysteriously disappears and the case is taken over by an experienced detective who also deals with his own personal problems. The interest of the case – at least initially – lies in the fact that it touches on contemporary problems of French society (terrorism, suburban life, etc.), although later all this is left aside for the development of a typical detective thriller. The atmosphere remains gloomy, the rhythms gain momentum, although there are some twists and turns. But it’s mostly there, as we’ve said, that Kassel takes over, lending personality to his character and helping to keep things interesting until the admittedly subversive ending.