The Swimmer is a 2021 Israeli sports drama written and directed by Adam Kalderon. Omer Perelman Striks stars as Erez, a gay competitive swimmer, grappling between desire and success. The film premiered at the Jerusalem Film Festival on 30 August 2021.
| The Swimmer | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Adam Kalderon |
| Written by | Adam Kalderon |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Ofer Inov |
| Edited by | Guy Nemesh |
| Music by | The Penelopes |
Production company | Ingenue Productions |
| Distributed by | Strand Releasing |
Release dates |
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Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | Israel |
| Languages | Hebrew English Russian |
Plot summary
editErez (Perelman Striks), a hot talent in the local swimming scene, enrolls at a tough training camp to further his dreams. Erez is pitted against the other swimmers, with the winner set to represent Israel at the Olympic Games. He develops a strong physical attraction towards Nevo, his rival at the camp. This attraction will unravel his ambitions and focus in the swimming pool.[1]
Cast and characters
edit- Omer Perelman Striks as Erez
- Asaf Jonas as Nevo Yasur
- Roy Reshef as Nadav
- Nadia Kucher as Paloma
- Gal Ben Amra as Yoav
- Igal Reznik as Dime
Reception
editThe film was well received by critics and holds a 92% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[2] Kyle Turner of The New York Times wrote that Kalderon: "renders his film “The Swimmer” with style and rich psychology." Turner continued: “Kalderon finds the intensity of desire and competition in the cracks of the statue."[3] Carlos Aguilar of the Los Angeles Times praised it as "a brightly colored and cleverly erotic queer sports drama."[4]
Perelman Striks was awarded the Best Actor award at the Jerusalem Film Festival in 2021.[5]
Release
editThe film first premiered at the Jerusalem Film Festival on 30 August 2021.[6] It has also been screened at the following film festivals; Palm Springs International Film Festival, UK Jewish Film Festival, BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Chéries-Chéris and the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.[6] It also received a limited theatrical release in the United States on 7 October 2022.[6]
The film was also released for streaming in Australia by the Special Broadcasting Service.[7]
References
edit- ^ The Swimmer Miami Jewish Film Festival. Retrieved on 12 April 2024
- ^ The Swimmer Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 12 April 2024
- ^ ‘The Swimmer’ Review: Tough Competition, In and Out of the Pool The New York Times. 6 October 2022
- ^ Review: "The Swimmer" freestyles through erotically charged waters Los Angeles Times. 13 October 2022
- ^ 2021 JFF Winners Jerusalem Film Festival. Retrieved on 12 April 2024
- ^ a b c Release IMDB. Retrieved on 12 June 2024
- ^ 10 Binge Worthy Queer TV for the Holidays Fuse Magazine. 2023
External links
edit- The Swimmer at IMDb