In Netflix’s The Swimmers, the sophomore feature film of director Sally El Hosaini, Hosaini and co-writer Jack Thorne (Enola Holmes 2) chronicle the harrowing journey of Syrian refugees Yusra and Sara Mardini, played by Nathalie and Manal Issa, respectively. Based on true events, The Swimmers depicts the sisters’ inspiring odyssey from their war-torn home country to Germany where Yusra trained to be an Olympic swimmer, defying all impossible odds in their way. In the film, rising star, producer, and director Matthias Schweighöfer portrays real-life swim coach Sven Spannenkrebs who helped prepare Yusra to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
During his interview with Collider’s Editor-in-Chief Steve Weintraub, Schweighöfer shares the importance of telling the Mardinis’ story “about hopes and dreams and passion,” about Hosaini’s vision for the film, and working alongside her and the Issa’s to do the story justice. He also talks about working with director Christopher Nolan on Oppenheimer, as well as his role in Netflix’s Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot, and his own directing career, teasing a new project in the works.
