The Swimmer
השחיין | Adam Kalderon | Israel, 2021 | Hebrew (English subtitles) | Drama | 83m | DCP | IMDB | Contact: Strand Releasing (US) M-Appeal (Worldwide) | Festival marketing sample: JFF 2021
Description: Erez is one of five swimmers selected for an elite residential training programme. They compete for a single coveted position on the Israeli Olympic team. Initially a favourite, Erez develops an attraction for one of his teammates, Nevo. His mildly flamboyant tastes arouse the suspicions of Dima, their bully Russian immigrant homophobic trainer. Disregarding Dima’s warnings against unwholesome attachments, Erez makes a move on Nevo…
Merits: The stylish initial credits montage of the shaving of a swimmer’s body, against a pulsating rhythmic score, sets the tone. The many parallels with Kalderon’s own life and an unexpected twist help lift what might otherwise be a boilerplate coming out or abusive coach/sportsman relationship film. Omer Perelman Striks delivers a solid performance as Erez. The scene of the final meet is elegantly interspersed with a moving magical realist sequence.
Rating: LGBT theme, strong language (f-bomb), drug use (joint), nudity, anorexia, mildly explicit masturbation.
Programming considerations: Strong LGBT market appeal.