This is my first time writing a review on a movie.. but as a Syrian, this time I felt involved. This movie is beautiful and the story is touching and all for a foreigner viewing it just like any other drama film. But the propaganda and misconception keeps on going on, I've lived in Syria during the war and traveled through all of its cities and governorates and my main residence is in Damascus where this movie is filmed. Not to be biased, Im going to lay everything as it is, the first thing that moved me to write this review is how they portrayed the syrian army.. totally untrue.. not to mention only Syrians can understand why they made the soldier speak in a certain dialect just to aid the propaganda and villainize the minority who speak like that and are from certain areas.. and to show that they are the only existent demons which is not true. Regardless of how he spoke, it was very low and intentional, could've been avoided and they could've made him speak normally like the rest not to just portray him being from a certain ethnic minorty. Second, they dont touch women like that, as a matter of fact not at all, not to mention showing him grabbing her breast, how demeaning is that, especially when the reality is its not true.. all my life there no one asked to see my id because they dont even talk to or look out for girls they only check out guys id's for safety reasons and army service. This point portraying the army harassing the girls out of everyone else in the bus was point turning for me and made the movie go down a steep hill... it was so unnecessary and vile, just a vile and degrading added lie. They dont even hit on girls on the streets the way they filmed it.. those soldiers got a million other things to look out for.. but in this movie it looks like a cabaret and all they look for is girls.. and that was plainly disgusting and anyone with a clear perception would know those are fabrications to demonize the reality.. because its just stupid. Second they didnt demostrate the beautiful Damascus as it is and that was heartbreaking for me, such a loss filming in the oldest city on earth and not taking the advantage of showing its enchanting beauty! I got goosebumps most of the time while watching the scenes filmed in Syria not gonna lie.. when I saw my home country on the screen of a hollywood film, our people, our streets, our accents, my eyes were teary. I have got to give the credit to the director for this type of film and for considering Syria and for cuts and takes filmed in Syria that made us feel appreciated or heard in someway, even though so much has been fabricated, but I stated I dont want to be biased and mention the pros and cons. Even the filming in Europe was beautiful, but I cant comment on that journey because thankfully its not something I've been through. From an emotional side, this movie gets all the sentimental value it wants, It would be only inhumane to not feel sorry for them and for the suffering of the people and what they go through til today in syria.. on this aspect, they got it all, I know the pain of my people and it made me cry.. we're now a movie for others to enjoy. Last but not least, I wish they portrayed their Syrian family and house in a way that is more realistic, this is not how families speak or act in our reality this was plain low grade acting. Finally, Its good that out of all of this resulted a highly rated movie considering the Syrian people, but would've been more successful and appreciated if it were to portray truths instead of falsehood, and if it focused more and how life actually is rather than complete emotion and recklessness.. they missed out on so many details that could've made it extra worthy.
Review of The Swimmers
