Original subtitles

[indistinct announcement on PA]

[seagulls cawing]

[high-pitched scream]

["Brighter Than the Sun" by Colbie Caillat plays]

♪ Stop me on the corner I swear you hit me like a vision ♪

♪ I, I, I wasn't expecting... ♪

[laughing and chatter]

♪ But who am I to tell fate Where it's supposed to go with it? ♪

♪ Don't you blink, you might miss it ♪

♪ See, we got a right To just love it or leave it ♪

♪ You find it and keep it ♪

♪ 'Cause it ain't every day You get the chance to say ♪

♪ Oh, this is how it starts ♪

♪ Lightning strikes the heart ♪

♪ It goes off like a gun... ♪

[muffled splashes]

["Brighter Than the Sun" continues muffled]

[muffled splashes]

[laughing and whooping]

- You lose. You lose! - You cheated!

No!

[muffled splashes]

[gasps]

♪ It goes off like a gun Brighter than the sun ♪

♪ Oh, this is how it starts Lightning strikes the heart ♪

♪ It goes off like a gun Brighter than the sun ♪

By the way, it's not a dinner. It's your surprise birthday party.

- I hate you. - Just don't ruin it for them.

[all yell] Surprise!

[cheering]

[all singing "Happy Birthday" in Arabic]

[in Arabic] Why aren't you surprised?

Seems like you knew, little one.

No, of course not. How could I know?

Happy birthday, darling.

Thanks, Mama.

Now go to your room and change your clothes.

OK, everyone, let's eat. Help yourselves.

["Shik Shak Shok" by Hassan Abou El Seoud plays]

[reporter in English] The Syrian revolution is starting.

People all on the streets,

demanding the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

We are together, Sunnis and Alawites...

[in Arabic] Sara, what are you doing? Come dance with us.

- In a minute. - What are you watching?

[in English] A group of Syrian women are shouting...

[in Arabic] I told you not to watch these things.

This is reality, Mama.

What happened in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya is happening here.

[mother] And I've told you nothing like that can happen in Syria.

[in English] The anger is building...

[mother in Arabic] Yalla, darling.

[Sara] The party's boring. I don't want to.

[mother] Come on, for your sister's sake.

[song continues]

Uncle, come on.

[in English] Everyone say "cheese."

[all] Cheese!

[man in Arabic] I thank God day and night for blessing me with three daughters,

stronger than a thousand sons.

But don't forget how lucky these girls are that I'm their dad

and their coach.

Here he goes.

[man chuckles]

Two weeks ago, at the qualifying meet for the National Championships,

Yusra improved her personal best in the 100m butterfly.

[man 2] Congrats, Yusra.

But Sara won her heat too.

[man] Yeah, Sara is headstrong and a leader like me.

But Yusra has discipline, strength, and perseverance.

She is my powerhouse.

What about me?

And you, Shahed, Daddy's darling,

are my little warrior.

Dear guests, I will be the first father in history

to have three daughters swimming in the Olympics.

[cheering and clapping]

[sighs deeply]

["Time for a Change" by Elephanz plays]

♪ So (oh, oh, oh, oh) time for a change ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, well Can you feel it... ♪

- [girl in English] Isn't that your cousin? - Nizar.

Nizar!

- [in Arabic] How you doing? - Good.

Play a song for us.

- What? - Play a song for us.

- What's it worth? - I'll buy you a shot.

For you guys.

["Titanium" by David Guetta ft. Sia plays]

♪ You shout it out ♪

♪ But I can't hear a word you say ♪

♪ I'm talking loud, not saying much ♪

♪ I'm criticized But all your bullets ricochet ♪

♪ Shoot me down, but I get up ♪

♪ I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose ♪

[bombs bursting faintly in the background]

♪ You shoot me down, but I won't fall ♪

♪ I am titanium ♪

♪ Titanium... ♪

[song muffles]

[muffled bombs exploding in distance]

[muffled gunfire]

[indistinct announcement on PA]

[woman 2] Go, Sara, go! Kick his ass!

Show me, then.

No, you can't do that.

[indistinct chatter, laughter]

No, I swear you can't do that.

[in English] It's late. We should go home.

[in Arabic] Why?

[in English] We have to be at the pool at six.

Do you seriously think there's any point in training anymore?

- If I want to make the Olympics. - [Sara] The Olympics?

Swimming for who?

There's no country left anymore.

Syria's gone! Bah. Haven't you noticed?

[sirens in background]

It is still early.

[indistinct shouting in background]

[Nizar in Arabic] What?

- What? - Razan Haddad is dead.

[all exclaim]

[Sara] In a bombing.

[in English] It's all over Facebook.

[in Arabic] My God...

I just saw her.

[indistinct chatter in background]

[in English] You see? All the more reason to go home.

All the more reason to party.

[fast-paced Arabic song plays]

[they sing along in Arabic]

[in Arabic] Sara, be careful. Get back in.

[continues singing]

You're so annoying. Hala, you can help me, you know.

[Hala laughs]

[car horn honks]

[shouts] Razan Haddad! We'll never forget you!

Bye!

[indistinct chatter]

[soldier] Hey, beautiful.

[soldier 2] What's up, ladies?

Come have a drink with us. Unless you don't like the look of me?

Aren't we good enough for you?

- [beeping] - [indistinct announcement on PA]

[in English] I hate living in this neighborhood.

- [helicopter whirring] - [in Arabic] Where have you been?

[dog barking in distance]

Aren't you out a little late tonight?

[soldier laughs and shouts in Arabic]

[speaking Arabic]

[baby crying in distance]

[Yusra whispering] Sara, shush, be careful.

Give me the keys.

- You'll wake Baba and Mama. - [Sara] Shh.

[Sara groans]

[whispering] Lulu.

How are you, darling?

[bird chirps]

- Don't be frightened. - [distant bombing]

Good night, my love.

[kisses]

Shh.

[mother] Do you have any idea what time it is?

Do you know what your dad would do if he knew?

[in English] Sorry.

[distant gunfire]

[distant bombing]

[in Arabic] Did you hear about Razan Haddad?

I heard.

God bless her soul and give her mother strength.

Yalla, darling. Time to sleep. You have training in the morning.

[bird chirps]

[timer beeps]

What was my time?

You're tired.

What was my time, Baba?

Coach. I'll see you at home.

[sports theme music plays]

[announcer] And it's Michael Phelps here in the 100m fly,

going for his seventh gold medal of these Games. Phelps in lane five.

[crowd cheers]

[in Arabic] You see? It's all arm propulsion, not the kick.

[announcer] ...about 24 flat at the first turn.

Čavić is gonna...

You know he went to Sydney when he was 15?

[father exclaims]

[announcer] But here comes Phelps!

[Yusra] The youngest American swimmer to compete at the Olympics.

[announcer] He gets it done! A new Olympic record.

You aren't a true athlete unless your dream is the Olympics.

[clicks tongue, sighs]

You're not going to represent us at the Nationals this time.

Yusra and Arwa got better times than you.

[airplane overhead]

[announcer] Everything going perfectly for Michael Phelps here in Beijing.

- [Sara in English] Hala left for Germany. - [Yusra] What?

- She went alone without her family. - Why didn't she tell us?

She's gonna apply for this family reunion thing.

When younger than 18, you have to write for your family to join you.

Can't believe she didn't tell us.

["Eda Eda" by El Sawareekh plays]

- [chuckles] - [in Arabic] You're disgusting.

[laughing]

[in English, laughing] I'm gonna post it!

No, actually, I don't wanna lose followers.

[in Arabic] IDs.

Omar?

From Duma? What are you doing here?

- [laughs] - [Yusra] Sara.

Why are you laughing?

Since when has laughing become illegal?

Give me your ID.

Please, she didn't mean disrespect.

Shut up, you.

[Sara] I'm not disrespecting.

Don't talk too much. Understand?

Raise your arms.

You'd do this to your sisters?

You're not my sister.

[laughs]

Is this your sister?

Stand up.

Yalla.

[soldier 2] Raise your arms.

[gasps]

- [gunshots] - [screaming]

Sniper!

[soldier 3] Eyes up!

Look up!

Go. There are people on the bus.

- [glass shatters] - [shots continue]

[helicopter whirring]

YOUR PLANES CAN'T BOMB OUR DREAMS

[indistinct chatter]

[father] How can I let my girls travel across Europe on their own?

What happened to the strong daughters you raised?

You know Razan Haddad is my third friend to die this month?

[siren in background]

You know how many times we've come close to death?

We need to get Yusra to Germany as soon as possible before she turns 18.

[gunfire in distance]

[mother] The problem is it's so dangerous, my love.

I wish you could go on a plane.

Because European countries are just handing out visas to Syrians.

Mama, it's very easy. We get to Germany and apply for family reunion,

and you can all come on a plane. It's simple.

So I let you two risk your lives,

crawl through the most dangerous parts of Europe, to get us plane tickets?

Everyone's doing it. Hala did it. She told me it's really easy...

[gasps]

[Yusra] My darling, come here.

- [father] It's out in the neighborhood. - [Shahed] I'm scared of the dark.

Don't be scared, little one.

I hope the car battery will last.

[Yusra] Yalla, see? Now eat up.

I wish we could go back to Darayya.

- Darayya is still too dangerous. - The whole of Syria is too dangerous.

But you and your sister walking across Europe isn't dangerous at all?

Yes, but once we arrive, we'll all be safe.

That's if you arrive.

And if you arrive, what will you be?

Refugees?

And you'll ruin your swimming careers.

[Sara] It's the best way.

[father] She always thinks she has the best way.

[angrily] You're not going.

That's the end of it.

If I was the one who was 17, you'd let me go on my own.

[in English] It's your precious Yusra you don't want to risk.

[door closes]

[indistinct chatter]

[in Arabic] Baba, about Sara...

Stop thinking about her.

Concentrate.

In the water, you're on your own. It's your fight.

Your aim is to win. It's not about being nice.

You have a goal, and you must reach it.

Focus on all the things you have control over.

The start.

Streamline.

The kick off the wall. Your breathing.

[in English] Find your lane. Swim your race.

[indistinct chatter]

[whistle blows three times]

[whistle blows]

[announcer in English] Take your marks.

[gunshot]

[crowd cheering]

Yusra! Yusra!

Yusra! Yusra! Yusra! Yusra! Yusra!

Yusra! Yusra!

[muffled explosions]

- [gasps] - [scream]

- [screaming] - [metal clanging]

[panicked screaming and clamoring]

[water gurgling]

[muted audio]

[muffled scream]

[panicked screaming]

Yusra!

[muffled scream]

[dull clanging]

- [sharp inhale] - [people screaming]

[Sara] Yusra!

[speaking Arabic]

[in Arabic] Two people died on the football field.

[Yusra] Baba.

Nizar is going to Germany.

[scoffs] Nizar?

He'll travel with me and Sara and protect us.

I wouldn't trust him to cross the road with you,

let alone take you all the way to Germany.

[mother] But, Ezzat, Nizar is their cousin.

- You know he would never leave them. - Whose side are you on?

[mother] I'm not taking sides.

This isn't about us. It's about the girls' lives.

They don't have a future here anymore.

They're not going to summer camp. Aren't you a mother?

[distant announcement in Arabic]

Baba, you see what's happening. The situation's gone from bad to worse.

How am I gonna make it to the Olympics if I can't swim?

I promise, when I get to Europe, I'll keep training.

All the swimmers are leaving.

See? I want to go. I want to keep training.

I'll have to go with you.

[Sara] And leave Mama and Shahed on their own?

What will become of me if something happens to her?

[Sara] Nothing will happen. Nizar and I will be with her.

I promise.

[exhales deeply]

[Yusra] Thank you, Baba.

[in English] Please, don't make me look like a liar.

[in Arabic] I'm not going with you.

[in English] OK? It's cold there, and I don't like the cold.

And I don't speak German. I speak English. Romy knows a sponsor in Canada.

He's gonna help me with my papers, so I can go to Toronto.

- It never works, these things. - [scoffs]

Canada is colder than Germany. So good luck!

[speaks Arabic]

[in English] Is she right?

[in Arabic] Dunno.

[in English] Canada is colder than Germany?

- Of course. - [Sara] Don't think Germany. Think Berlin.

DJ capital of the world, parties that go on all weekend.

Underground clubs.

Berghain.

- How do you know Berghain? - Of course I know.

DJ Niz needs European exposure.

More people will listen to your mixes.

How can you let your two favorite cousins go to Europe without you?

But you're not my favorite cousins. I have other cousins who are nice to me.

Fine. I will go without you.

[indistinct chatter]

[Ezzat in Arabic] You fly to Istanbul on a tourist visa.

If anyone asks anything, you're tourists going to Turkey on holiday.

Find a smuggler to take you over the Bulgarian border.

This route is more expensive than the sea crossing, but much safer.

- Ten thousand euros. Guard it. - How did you get it?

[distant sirens]

I borrowed it.

Isn't it too much, Baba? Keep some for yourselves.

I'll try to get more in case you get stuck.

But if you do get stuck, you do the talking.

Of course. Don't worry, Uncle.

This is yours.

Tell people you swam for your country.

That has to matter.

You too, Sara.

[bird chirps]

Can I borrow your Converse?

No, they are too big for you, and I'm taking them with me.

Can I use your nail polish?

[chuckles softly]

No, you'll ruin it.

Can I come with you?

Who would take care of Lulu?

[bird chirps]

Look what I made you.

You made this?

[Shahed] It's to help you get to Germany.

Oh, my love.

I'm going to take it with me.

Let's put Lulu in her cage before she poops on your bed.

Lulu.

[both laugh]

[laughing continues]

- [Shahed] Come help us. - What are you doing?

[Yusra] Lulu's flying!

[laughing and exclaiming]

[mother] When you were born,

I decided to give you the things I didn't have.

Freedom to choose whatever you want in life.

When I closed my eyes and imagined your futures...

[Ezzat] Here he comes.

[mother] ...I didn't picture you in a wedding dress like the other mothers.

Sorry I'm late.

[Ezzat] What happened to you?

I forgot my passport.

Habibi...

All I hoped was for you to graduate from the best universities...

Don't worry. They are like my sisters. I'll guard them with my life.

Come here.

[mother] Having wonderful careers and living the best life,

that was everything I wished for.

And we'll have all these things, Mama.

[mother] Hopefully.

[sobbing]

[sobs]

[sobs]

Oh, my love.

[speaks Arabic]

- I'll keep her safe. Don't worry. - [mother] Keep yourself safe too.

As soon as you arrive, call us, OK?

[indistinct announcement]

[Ezzat] Do you know that I love you?

I know.

[Ezzat] Do you really know?

Don't go. Please don't go.

We'll meet in Germany soon.

I swear. Really soon.

- [agent] Passports. Where are you going? - [Nizar] Istanbul.

- [security in English] Laptop, telephone... - [mother in Arabic] Have a safe journey.

[security in English] Laptop, telephone, computer.

[indistinct announcement]

[in Arabic] May God protect you.

[announcement in English] Passengers landing on flight number 221

to Istanbul via Beirut,

make your way to the gate now.

[airplane engine roaring]

[chime]

[steward in Arabic] Welcome aboard this flight to Istanbul.

We would like to remind you

that life jackets are the property of the airline.

Any attempt to take them will be considered

an act of theft, and you will be prosecuted.

[in English] And the airline would like to remind you

that you're a bunch of homeless refugees now.

We're not refugees.

We have a home.

[indistinct chatter]

- [Nizar] Salaam alaikum. - Wa 'alaikum as-salaam.

[Nizar in English] We want one room.

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, OK.

So this is how it's gonna be.

Yes. Yusra and me in the beds, you on the floor next to the door

so you can protect us like you're meant to.

Get used to it.

[Nizar] Amazing.

I saw on Facebook that there's a square all the Syrians go to. We should go there.

You think you're gonna handle all the arrangements?

This is what you agreed with Baba.

- [clicks tongue] Exactly. - Yeah, whatever.

[chuckles]

- [Yusra] You are keeping it there? - Yeah, where no one looks.

- Not what I heard! - What did you hear?

[chuckling]

- [Yusra] Yalla! - [Nizar] Yeah?

[laughing and tussling]

[Yusra in Arabic] Don't hurt my sister.

[in English] That's my bed!

- [in Arabic] No, my bed. - I'm gonna pass out here.

- [Nizar in English] It's my bed! - [all laughing]

[Nizar in Arabic] Enough. What?

[all laughing]

[in English] The floor it is.

I love you guys.

[all laughing]

["Single" by Sharmoofers plays]

[siren wails in the distance]

[song continues]

[in Arabic] We're looking for a smuggler.

Do you know someone reliable?

[in English] We have to cross that bridge.

I think we walked that way.

Turkey has more than two million Syrians, and he can't find any of them.

[in Arabic] We're still on the European side.

Yeah, so where do we go?

We've taken the wrong bridge.

[in English] Change of plan. No more following Nizar. Following them.

- What? - From now on, we share leadership. Yalla.

When exactly did I have leadership?

[song continues]

[Sara] See? We should have been in charge from the start.

[song ends]

[indistinct chatter]

[in Arabic] They have SIM cards.

- [in English] Do you speak English? - [vendor] A little.

We want SIM cards for Europe.

[indistinct chatter]

[in Arabic] What? Why are they dressed like that?

They can't sell the suits, so they put life jackets on them.

- [Nizar in English] How much, please? - $2,000 each.

- $2,000? - Yes.

He says he can get us on a boat straight to Lesbos.

A bus will take us down to the coast. It's $2,000 each.

We pay half now and half when we arrive.

[Yusra] Baba said not to get on a boat.

[Nizar] He says the boats have been getting through now.

Do you know how long it takes to walk the Bulgarian route?

I don't know. I think it's the best option.

It's one boat, a few hours, and then we're in Greece. In Europe.

[Sara] I can't believe we're talking about taking a boat

with the only Mardini who can't swim.

- [Nizar] No, habibi, I can swim. - I think we should go with him.

[indistinct chatter and laughter]

No phone, no GP-Z, no open curtain, no food, no toilet.

No toilets for ten hours?

- It's OK. - [bus engine starts]

Yalla.

My friend, money, dollar, euro, masari, fluz...

Dollar, euro. OK?

[smuggler] One?

- [Sara] Two. - [smuggler] You?

- For me and my sister. - OK.

[counting]

One thousand?

Good.

[in Arabic] They're my daughters.

Euro, masari, fluz, dollar.

Yalla.

Everybody, go down. I bring boat.

Go down.

Down.

[Nizar in Arabic] We go down here?

- [Yusra] You OK? - Yeah.

[baby crying]

[in English] Hi!

Do you speak English?

Yes.

Is it a boy or a girl?

It's a girl.

So cute!

[baby babbles]

[Yusra] Hello!

[indistinct chatter]

I'm Emad. Nice to meet you.

I'm Yusra.

And I'm Sara, her sister. We come from Syria.

- [in Arabic] You're Syrian? - Yeah, Syrian.

- Hello, I'm Nizar Mardini. - Hi.

- What's your name? - Ninar.

- [in English] Where are you from? - Afghanistan. Kabul.

Oof.

But this guy came all the way from Somalia.

He's been following me since Iran.

You been following me. He likes my cooking.

[chuckles]

I used to cook food in a restaurant back home.

- I'm Bilal. - [Yusra] Hi.

I'm going to miss him when I get to Berlin.

Oh, we are also going to Germany. To Hanover. We have a friend there.

Oh.

- [chuckles] - [Nizar in Arabic] Where you from?

I've come from Sudan with my wife, Onnab. We're going to Sweden, hopefully.

Hello, nice to meet you.

[in English] What about you? Where are you from?

I am from Eritrea.

And what's your name?

Shada.

We are going to the UK.

Nice to meet you.

[Ninar singing haunting melody in Arabic]

Where's the smuggler?

I hope he comes back.

♪ Damascus ♪

[haunting melody continues]

♪ Damascus... ♪

[haunting melody continues]

[melody fades]

[cell phone vibrating]

[Sara] No, don't answer. They'll worry if they know what we're doing.

- I'll just text them, no? - No. You wanna say what?

[sighs deeply]

[Yusra] I just saw a shooting star.

Yeah, it's an angel throwing away his cigarette

so Allah can't catch him smoking.

[both laugh]

Why do you have to ruin everything all the time?

[both giggling]

[Yusra] Thank you.

[indistinct chatter]

Arsenal.

[baby babbles]

[moans]

- Are you OK? - Yeah, I'm fine.

Are you sure?

Yeah, it's from yesterday, but I'm fine. It's good.

Let me see. [grunts]

Ooh, it's hurting you, huh? One second. I'm gonna have to chop it off.

- Like this. - No! No!

[chuckles]

Not funny!

- [Emad] Then why are you laughing? - [chuckles]

[rocks clattering]

We go down.

Yalla.

[smuggler] Come. Come.

Yalla, yalla.

[indistinct chatter]

[waves crashing]

[speaking indistinctly]

[in English] OK, everybody. Now good to go.

- OK? - Now?

Now good. No coastguard.

No problem. No problem.

OK. One person, one bag.

One person, one bag.

OK?

[smuggler speaking in Arabic]

[inhales sharply]

[baby cries]

- Can you take my daughter? - Carry her?

[Shada murmurs to baby]

[indistinct chatter]

[Nizar in English] Take the bag.

[smuggler] No, no, no, listen.

[smuggler speaking in Arabic]

Baba.

[in Arabic] Look at its condition. It's impossible. Look how many people.

We're not going.

[overlapping chatter in Arabic]

Sara, come.

We've paid using everything we have.

No, no.

[smuggler in English] Shush! Shush! No problem. Shush!

[Nizar in English] We are too many. We need a second boat. Second boat.

[Emad] No more room.

- [smuggler] Inside! - There's no more room in the boat.

Listen. Don't shout. Police come. No shout.

- [Sara] Wait, please, for everyone. - [smuggler] Go!

- [Bilal] We need another boat. - [Sara] We're a lot on the boat.

[worried chatter]

[smuggler] OK, look.

Left, right. OK?

This, front, back. OK? Slow, good.

Fast, no good, OK? Slow, OK?

[motor rumbles, doesn't start]

[Bilal] Friend? Not working.

- [Nizar] Why is it not working? - [rumbles]

[Nizar] We paid $2,000, man.

This boat's broken.

- [Sara] OK, let's get out. - Go down.

- [motor starts] - [indistinct chatter]

Wait. He's not going with us?

[smuggler speaks indistinctly]

[wind blows]

[engine sputters]

[in Arabic] Sara? What if they don't know how to swim?

[indistinct chatter in Arabic]

[in English] Who here knows how to swim?

[in Arabic] Who knows how to swim?

[responding in Arabic]

[in English] OK, the people with their hands up,

choose someone with their hands down.

It's your duty to help them. It's your responsibility.

[in Arabic] If your hand is up, help those with their hands down.

[indistinct chatter in Arabic]

[in English] Shada. Don't worry.

Both of us?

Yes.

Nizar.

We're in this together. We need to work together.

[in Arabic] We're in this together. We'll help each other.

God is great.

Put your faith in God, guys.

[baby cries]

[engine sputters]

[man] This boat is damaged. I swear it's damaged.

[woman] Oh God, we're gonna sink.

It's leaking.

[Sara] It's from the waves. Don't worry.

It's full of water, man.

[Nizar] Guys, it won't sink.

[in English] We won't sink.

[Bilal in Arabic] We can handle this. Don't worry.

[boy] Baba...

Don't be scared, son.

[engine stalls]

[man in English] Why the engine stops?

- Why did the engine stop? - Calm down!

- Everybody, calm down, OK? - [all speaking]

Calm down.

Calm down. It's OK.

- [engine sputters] - Go.

Emad.

One more time.

- Go. - [sputters]

- We're trying. Do we have enough fuel? - [baby cries]

Yes, that's fuel. It's good.

We're gonna be good. Don't worry.

[baby cries]

[indistinct chatter]

- Bilal. - [Bilal] OK.

Hold it.

[worried chatter]

[in Arabic] Let me pass.

[in English] Sit down. You have to keep the balance of the boat.

[in Arabic] Watch out for the kids. The kids!

[Nizar] Listen to me. Listen.

[in English] I studied mechanical engineering.

[in Arabic] I studied mechanical engineering. I'll try to fix the engine.

[clamoring and panicked chatter]

[overlapping chatter]

Stay calm.

- [Emad] What do you know? - [Bilal] Sir, you know how to do this?

[in English] I don't know, but I will try. I'm in my first year, OK?

[all in Arabic] God is the greatest.

[man recites voyagers' prayer in Arabic]

[Nizar in English] This one?

- [voyagers prayer continues] - [Nizar in English] Put it back in.

Pull!

[voyagers' prayer continues]

[frustrated grunt]

- [man yells] - [silence]

- [woman yells] - [silence]

- [waves crashing] - [panicked chatter]

[panicked cries]

[Sara] We're too heavy.

Everything we don't need, in the sea. Throw everything we don't need.

[Bilal] Throw everything!

[panicked chatter]

[Bilal in Arabic] We're too heavy!

[muffled water gurgling]

- [Nizar] Keep bailing! - [woman] Please!

[Nizar] We need to get the water out.

Quickly!

- [Nizar] Keep bailing! - [people crying]

[baby cries]

[muffled yelling]

[Nizar muffled] Keep bailing!

[Emad unmuffled] We're doing the same thing over and over again.

[Nizar in Arabic] Guys, I've got network. The coastguards. It's ringing.

[in English] Hello?

Help. We need emergency assistance.

We're in a boat stuck between Ayvalik, Turkey, and Lesbos.

Our engine has stopped.

But we are in Greek waters!

- [coastguard] Can you go back? - No, we can't go back. We are sinking.

You don't understand. We have children. We have women. We are going to die.

Please, I don't understand. We will die. Please. Hello?

He said it's not their policy.

[clamoring, panicking]

[Nizar] Bail out the water!

We must try. Bilal.

[in Arabic] Abdo. Give me your knife.

[Emad in English] Sit down! Keep the balance of the boat!

Sara. Sara, what are you doing?

- [Sara] Help me with the rope. - Sara!

- [Nizar] Sara, sit down. - [in Arabic] Sara, what are you doing?

[in English] We need to make the boat lighter.

Please!

Sara.

- Just keep bailing. - OK.

- Sara! - [screaming]

[Nizar] Sara!

Sara!

[in Arabic] No. No, Yusra. You'll die. For God's sake, don't do this!

[in English] Please! I'm not letting her in the water. Leave me alone!

[Sara in Arabic] Don't let her get in.

[Nizar] What can I do?

[in English] If you go in, I go in.

[Sara] No!

[muffled water gurgling]

[inhales deeply]

Sara's right. We're too heavy.

I can't swim. If I could swim, I'd be in there.

It's OK. It's OK.

[man] No!

[man] What are you doing? No!

[splashing]

Are you crazy?

[engine starts]

It's working! The engine's working!

[Nizar] The engine's started!

[deep breath and coughing]

[man] Pull, Nizar.

[indistinct panicked chatter]

[panicked chatter]

We are sinking!

- [panicked chatter] - [baby cries]

[Nizar] Sara, the engine's started! Come in.

[Sara] No. The boat will sink.

[coughs] It's too dangerous.

[muffled water gurgling]

[coughing]

[Yusra] Sara!

[Ezzat] Find your lane.

Swim your race.

[breathing heavily]

[Yusra whispering to song] ♪ I'm bulletproof ♪

♪ Nothing to lose... ♪

[Yusra struggling] ♪ Ricochet... ♪

[Yusra whispering] ♪ Fire away... ♪

[seagull cawing]

[song playing loudly] ♪ You shoot me down, but I won't fall ♪

♪ I am titanium ♪

[Sara] Yusra!

Yusra!

Look.

[Nizar] Almost there! I see land!

[excited chatter]

[coughs]

- [indistinct chatter] - [gasping]

[Nizar] Push. Yalla.

[coughing repeatedly]

[man] Women and children are first.

[breathing heavily]

[rejoicing]

[man yelling excitedly] We made it! We made it! We made it!

We made it!

[crying emotionally]

[sobbing]

[sighs deeply]

[baby babbles]

[grunts in frustration]

- [grunts] - [air hissing]

[grunts]

[speaks indistinctly]

[grunts]

[yells]

[speaking indistinctly]

- [Sara] Excuse me. - [Nizar] Sir.

[Sara] Can we have water for everyone, please?

No refugee.

- No, sir, we have money. We can pay. - No refugee, no.

- Let's go. - [door slams]

[exclaims]

[in Arabic] There's a tap.

[refugee] Guys, there's water.

- Come. There's water. - [all exclaiming]

Bring the children.

- [Sara] Go. - No, you go.

- [Sara] No. - Habibi, you go.

[Sara] No, let her finish.

[indistinct chatter]

[breathing heavily]

[indistinct chatter]

[water trickling]

- A missed call from your mother. - You still have your phone?

- I can share it. We can all share it. - OK.

[mother in Arabic] I called a million times.

- [church bell tolls] - Are you OK? Where are you?

In Lesbos. We're in Europe, Mama.

Thank God. I've been praying for you every day.

Bless you, Auntie. Update my mother and look after her.

Mama's crying.

Yalla, Shahed!

[Shahed] Joey's out of American Idol, and it's not fair.

And I miss...

[in English] We will find a charger, huh?

["Holm" by Emel plays]

[indistinct chatter]

[man] It's over there by the truck.

Thank you.

[aid worker] Yes, you can put them over here. We have plenty of supplies.

- Thank you. - [aid worker] For the baby.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

- Thank you. - [aid worker] You're welcome.

OK. For you.

- [Bilal] Thank you. - [aid worker 2] You're welcome.

[ship horn blows]

[song continues]

[indistinct chatter]

[Yusra] Oh, that one with the writing.

[song fades]

[gurgling water]

[gurgling stops]

[gurgling water]

[gurgling stops]

[gurgling water]

[gurgling stops]

[in Arabic] I saw this seagull floating above us.

It stayed with us for a long time.

For some reason, it felt like it was guiding us.

All I was thinking was how Mama and Baba had no idea where we were.

And how we didn't answer the phone.

And how stupid it would be for swimmers to die in the sea.

Do you know what Baba will do if he knows I let you get in the water?

He'll be proud.

- [indistinct chatter] - [ship's horn blares]

- [in English] One tea for Sara. - Thank you.

One tea for me,

and one, two, three, four... 125 sugar...

- Three. - ...for Sara.

Now, what you both did in the sea,

it was...

I'm sorry I couldn't stay in, you know.

I don't know how you...

Well, she got in the sea first.

She's a superhero.

I agree.

You could have told me that you were professional swimmers.

[all chuckling]

If there's anything you both need, you just ask me.

Well, the only thing I need now is to wash my hair.

- It's full of salt. - Ah, there's showers behind this building.

[Yusra] Really?

- But the queue was very long. - [Sara] Queue?

Come on. Superheroes don't queue.

OK.

[Sara] I'll find a shower without a queue.

- Yalla, let's do it. - What are you doing?

- [Yusra] We need to look European. - [Sara] And rich.

This way, you will see that I have money.

- We need to work on this boy here. - No.

- Unbutton this. - Trust us.

[Emad] I don't trust you.

Look at me.

- What is this hair? - I like my hair.

[Yusra laughs] It's awful.

You look like a very big businessman, very proud of himself.

- I look European and rich. Come on. - Let's go.

Yeah.

♪ Me and my girls Me and my girls ♪

♪ Yeah, me and my Me and my, me and my... ♪

Ciao.

♪ Me and my girls ♪

♪ No jodas, nosotras Me and my girls ♪

♪ Me and my girls ♪

[laughing]

[playful yelling]

They have no idea people are dying in that sea.

[laughing and whooping]

[motor whines]

[ship horn blows]

[metallic thud]

[Sara] So how are we gonna get to Germany?

[Emad] We should all follow the train tracks from city to city,

through Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and Hungary,

Austria, to Germany.

It will be safer if we travel together.

[indistinct chatter]

[Shada sings a gentle melody]

[wincing]

[baby cries]

It looks bad.

[continues singing]

[indistinct voice on radio]

Why the UK?

Is your husband there?

[Shada] Shh...

Is he dead?

My husband is

not good man.

[indistinct voice on radio]

[baby whines]

You don't wear hijab. You swim.

I have never met a girl like you before.

Well, my dad was a professional swimmer.

He swam for Syria, and he loved it so much.

But he had to stop.

And, actually, he only had daughters, so he had to train us.

He was our coach, my sister and I.

And now you are his ambition.

Yes.

I love it. Swimming is home for me.

I feel like it's where I belong.

[sighs] And...

one day, I want to swim in the Olympics.

I was hoping Rio.

[baby whines]

But it feels so far away right now.

I don't know if I can do it.

I believe you can do it.

[Emad] So what will you do in Hanover?

Bring the rest of my family over.

And then?

I don't know. Sing a song, plant a tree.

- [Emad chuckles] - [Sara] And I want to study.

Art, maybe.

I want to study too. Literature.

Yeah, I must also find a job. I have to send money home.

To your wife?

No, I am not married.

- Are you? - [man] Hey.

Name one married superhero.

- Ah, didn't Superman marry Lois Lane? - [man] You speak English?

Female superhero.

Hey, you speak English?

- English? - Yes.

You cross border at Tabanovce, they will put you in camp.

Who?

Serbian police.

They will take your fingerprints.

Once they take your fingerprints, you are stuck.

I can take you to Hungary.

No police. No fingerprint. No problem.

- [Emad] How much? - [man] Five hundred euro each.

- [Emad] Yeah? - [man] Yeah.

[Yusra] Are we crazy to do this?

[coughing]

[coughing]

[doors open]

- [man] Out. - [man 2] Get out.

- No go to Hungary. - [man] Out of my truck.

- Out. - [man 2] Listen.

[man] Get the fuck out!

- [Yusra] But we paid them. - Give me my money!

- You hear me? - Out.

Hey, stop.

You said you'd take us to Hungary! Where are we?

I don't know.

Let's just go this way, OK?

- [squelching] - [animals chitter]

[Sara] What's happening?

- It's razor wire. - Careful.

Push.

[Emad] It's OK.

[Shada] Be careful.

- [Emad] I have her. - Careful.

[Shada] OK. It's OK.

There's English. English.

[Emad whistles]

- [woman] Where do they want to go? - [Bilal] Budapest, Hungary.

Eight hundred euro.

[Bilal] For everyone?

- Each?! - [Emad] No, that's too much.

Maybe you want police to catch you.

[siren wailing in the distance]

[Emad] Wait. Wait. Wait.

What are you doing?

Better not to look so foreign.

[in Arabic] Maybe it's better?

Yes, no problem.

[in English] Please.

[children laughing]

[indistinct chatter]

[shouting orders]

[in English] You need one English speaker in each car for border guard.

- Go. - [Sara] Yalla, get in the car.

We can't split up.

She said one English speaker each car, OK?

I speak English if you want to.

I want to be in the same car as you. Please.

What about the border guards? We need to help the others.

- Please. - Don't worry. I'll see you in Hungary.

Yalla!

- Sara, please. - Get in.

Sara!

[engines starting]

[woman] Go. Get in car.

Get in car! Go!

[music plays on radio]

[siren wails]

[smuggler] Shit.

[tires squeal]

- [thudding] - [tensely] Hold on.

[brakes squeal]

[smuggler] Hungary border. Be careful.

[dog barking]

[dogs barking]

- [bang on window] - [gasp]

[dog barking]

[man] Quick. We have two minutes and then they come.

[dog barking in the distance]

[siren wails]

[grunts]

[brakes squeal]

[Nizar in Arabic] Thank God you're safe.

- [in English] Welcome to Hungary. - Praise God.

- [in English] Where's Sara? - [Nizar in Arabic] Still hasn't arrived.

[in English] Why don't you bring a sign? "We're refugees."

Go inside. You wait inside.

[in Arabic] Don't worry. She'll be here soon.

[indistinct chatter]

[metal grinding]

[reporter in English] It is not quite on a biblical scale,

but an exodus it certainly is.

The refugees and migrants who've been trapped now deciding to walk.

They're marching all the way to Germany.

They've set out on a hopeless quest, but the fact they've done this at all

reflects their desperation being stuck in Budapest.

You can come to the UK with us.

If you need to.

The German chancellor Angela Merkel

has been calling for a coordinated European response to the crisis.

Thinks Merkel is his mother.

[refugee on TV] Germany, help us!

[refugee woman] My country is war.

No help. The children, they no help, the family. Why no help?

- [man] Germany, help us! - [all] Germany, help us!

[chirping]

[chirping]

[Sara whispering] Yusra.

Yusra.

Always late, but worth the wait.

[chuckles]

They stopped us. They had a big dog.

But we were so lucky. The driver convinced them to let us go,

and now I'm here. I made it.

[door slams]

[in Arabic] Finally.

[in English] She was scared you wouldn't make it.

[sighs]

Oh. I'm sorry.

You're OK.

[chuckles]

[Yusra grunts]

[sound muffles]

[Yusra panting]

[blow lands]

- [sound clears] - [both struggling]

[taunting]

- [man laughs] - [Yusra grunts]

- [grunts] - [cries in pain]

[attacker cries out]

[attacker grunts]

[speaking Hungarian]

[speaking Hungarian]

[speaking Hungarian]

[in Arabic] Animal!

[in English] You have water in there and oxygen.

I'm not one of these criminals.

You can tell your friends this is good business. You understand?

70% of my drivers get through to Germany.

- [Emad] Viktor. - Yeah?

- Can we have a look? - [Viktor] Come.

I'm not getting in that truck.

[Sara] But we have to stay together.

He was recommended to Bilal by someone who got through.

I can't.

- I know, but we have to go. We need to go. - I told you, I can't.

Go alone if you want to. We'll meet in Germany.

- You expect me to leave you? - You already did.

What's going on?

She won't get into the truck.

[speaking Arabic]

[in English] You OK? What happen?

[Nizar] We've decided not to take the truck.

[Shada] But what will you do?

Join the march to Germany, I guess.

I can't walk anymore.

[baby babbles]

We will all meet again.

I'm sure of it.

Let's see if you will be happy when she lives on your carpet for months.

You are welcome on my carpet anytime.

[chuckles]

- Take care. - Nizar.

Take care.

[both chuckle]

- She told me. - Guys?

You stay safe.

We're gonna...

I'm gonna miss you so much.

...find a new way with Nizar and Yusra.

[indistinct chatter]

[Sara] So we're gonna go.

- [Yusra] Please take care. - I'm gonna miss you.

[Sara] We will go a new way.

- There you are. - [baby babbles]

[indistinct chatter]

[Sara] Bye.

Bye.

[Bilal] Emad? Yalla, let's go.

[Nizar] Wait, wait.

I don't think we can afford this.

- How much money do we have? - I'll spend all my money if I have to.

She has to rest.

[chuckles]

[sniffs]

[speaks Arabic]

What?

[in English] Can you smell it?

- No. - Mama's making barazek.

- Stop it. - What?

I'm not in the mood.

I miss them so much.

Me too. And Lulu.

[speaks Arabic]

- [imitates bird] - [chuckles]

[in English] She's shitting all over your bed! [chuckles]

Oh no. Guess who's here.

- Who? - Baba.

Baba's coming with the resistance bands.

- I don't want to stretch! No! - No, come on.

- I refuse! No, I don't want it. - No.

- I miss the resistance bands. I miss them. - No.

- [Sara] I refuse. Say no. - [Yusra] I won't.

Pack your bags and get ready because Nizar is taking you to Germany.

- What? - I'm serious. Yalla, quick.

Get your things. There's a bus.

It has been sent by the Austrians or maybe the Germans. I don't know.

But they saw the march, and they want to help us. Hmm?

Do you know what's the best part? We don't need tickets.

What? It's free?

- How did you know about it? - I'm good at some things, you know.

Now pack your bags and admit it.

♪ I can be your hero, baby ♪

[chuckles]

♪ I can kiss away the pain... ♪

Get up. We need to dress.

♪ I can kiss away the... ♪

- Go. we need to pack. - Quick.

I'll be waiting at the reception. Quick.

[door opens]

[door closes]

Yalla.

It's a trap.

They'll put us in a refugee camp, and we won't ever get out.

No one cares.

[in Arabic] Maybe we should go home.

We're not going back now, Yusra.

Don't you see how far we've come?

I'm not giving up now.

Look at me.

[Yusra sniffs]

[Sara sighs]

I listened to you before. Now you need to listen to me.

Listen to you?

If we went with the others.

If we didn't come at all.

So it's my fault?

Is it mine?

Why did you bring me here if you hate me?

To save you.

And save the family.

[sobs]

Was that man trying to save me?

I wouldn't have let him hurt you.

I wouldn't let him do anything to you.

[exhales shakily]

I'm scared something bad will happen again.

I wouldn't be able to take it.

[inhales and sniffs]

[in English] If I say no...

would you go without me?

Of course, yes.

No. We go together or not at all.

[Yusra sniffs]

And I don't hate you.

I don't hate you either.

Most of the time.

[chuckles softly]

- [man] Passengers for bus two, please. - Quickly.

[in Arabic] Which one though?

[Nizar in English] He said number seven.

- [man] Bus number five... - [Nizar] Hey, excuse me.

- [Sara] God, there's a lot of people. - Passengers for bus five.

[in Arabic] No, that's number three.

- [worker in English] Bus number seven? - Go, yalla!

[man] Passengers for bus seven, please.

[indistinct chatter]

- [clamoring] - [man] Is this Germany?

[bus driver] Yes, we are in Berlin.

[in Arabic] We've arrived!

[cheering and clamoring]

[clapping and cheering]

Hello, Baba. We've arrived in Berlin.

Uncle, we've arrived in Germany!

We'll be seeing you soon.

I love you all.

[worker in English] Hi. Welcome to Germany.

- Hey, welcome to Berlin. - Thank you.

[in Arabic] The Germans are welcoming us.

Enough. We made it.

[sobs] We made it.

[in English] Please have passports and paperwork ready. Thank you.

["Don't Care Where You From" by 47 Soul plays]

[refugee worker 2] And your name? Passport, please.

♪ I don't care where you're from Where you're from ♪

♪ You might be from Philly or Tripoli ♪

♪ From the mountains or the sea... ♪

The form, please.

♪ I don't care where you're from Where you're from ♪

♪ Maybe got the keys to your city... ♪

[laughing]

[photographer] Thank you.

♪ I don't care where you're from ♪

♪ Where you at? ♪

[singer vocalizing]

- ♪ Where you at? ♪ - [beeping]

[song ends]

Uh, Yusra Mardini und Sara Mardini?

[in English] Hi, I am Diana. Please, come with me.

- [Sara] OK. - Uh, what about our cousin?

[Diana] He will be housed with the men.

- I will be able to see them later, right? - Yeah.

[Yusra] OK, thank you.

[announcement] ...please report to hangar seven at 2:00 p.m.

Bye.

[Diana] There are buses outside the main entrance that go into Berlin.

Um, the locker number, your locker number is on your ID card.

- We actually need to go to Hanover. - Yes.

Our friend is there.

You... You are registered here.

You will be eligible for nothing if you move to Hanover, I'm afraid.

- [in Arabic] What? - I dunno.

[in English] You are here.

Unit C3 in hangar five.

There's no doors.

Ah, it's a fire risk.

Uh, there is a curtain.

Thank you.

- Hi. - Hello.

- Hi. - Hello.

[German message on PA]

[lights powering down]

[baby cries]

You're not going to bed on our first night in Berlin, huh?

You promised me clubs. I need to hear some music.

- [Yusra] Nizar... - Yalla, get up.

- [Sara] We don't have enough money. - [Nizar] Just come.

[Sara] We're really going to a club in our pajamas?

[Nizar] Just trust me, OK?

It's not Berghain, but DJ Niz is on the decks!

[all three cheer]

["Virile" by The Blaze plays]

♪ Sometimes there's no words ♪

♪ But silence is still talking ♪

♪ We look so different first ♪

♪ Then we start to believe in something ♪

♪ That my dream is so true ♪

♪ When you hold me, I'm alive ♪

♪ When you hold me, I'm alive ♪

♪ And I'm sure when I say ♪

♪ You're the best friend of my life ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Come with me We gonna burn a sunset... ♪

[song fades]

[song intensifies]

[song fades]

[baby babbles]

[announcement in German on PA]

[mother in Arabic] Don't worry. The bomb landed in waste ground behind the house.

Baba is checking on Uncle Ahmed. Did you see about the asylum papers?

Not yet. We're still waiting. They have to give us an appointment first.

[both speaking in Arabic]

[man in English] The upper house of the Russian parliament earlier granted

President Vladimir Putin permission to deploy the Russian air force in Syria.

[in Arabic] It's not Damascus.

Our turn is coming.

...rebel-controlled areas, resulting in the deaths of 36 people.

[crying]

[in English] The US and its allies have insisted...

[little girl crying, speaking Arabic]

["Unstoppable" by Sia plays]

♪ All smiles I know what it takes to fool this town ♪

♪ I'll do it till the sun goes down And all through the nighttime ♪

♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ Oh yeah I'll tell you what you wanna hear ♪

♪ Leave my sunglasses on While I shed a tear ♪

♪ It's never the right time Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ I put my armor on Show you how strong I am ♪

♪ I put my armor on I'll show you that I am ♪

♪ I'm unstoppable I'm a Porsche with no brakes ♪

♪ I'm invincible Yeah, I win every single game ♪

♪ I'm so powerful I don't need batteries to play ♪

♪ I'm so confident Yeah, I'm unstoppable today ♪

♪ Unstoppable today Unstoppable today ♪

♪ Unstoppable today I'm unstoppable today ♪

♪ Unstoppable today Unstoppable today ♪

♪ Unstoppable today I'm unstoppable today ♪

[song ends]

[Sara] It will never work.

[whistles]

[in Arabic] Yusra, he's training.

[in English] Hi. We're swimmers, and we need training twice a day.

We'd like to swim for your club.

Please.

I'm sorry. What?

We both swam for our country, in Syria,

and I even competed in the world championship.

I went to Russia, and...

This is a real swimming club, yes?

I mean, people train to be professional here?

Because I wanna go to the Olympics. My father was training us.

- I wish I could help. The club is full. - I told them already.

- Yeah, have a good day. - Have a nice day. Thank you.

Wait. I swim 200m freestyle in 2.12

and the 100m butterfly in 1.09.

- Butterfly in 1.09? - Yes.

- She kidding? - No, no. She swims. She swims.

OK.

OK, I have a small break before my eleven o'clock session,

so in the indoor pool if you're quick.

[repeating] Thank you.

OK.

But I don't have swimsuit.

You don't have a swimsuit?

[Yusra] And goggles.

[speaking German]

- Thank you so much. Thank you. - OK. Yes, you're welcome.

Let's go.

[coach] Hey, hey.

What's your name?

Yusra Mardini.

Yeah, and I'm Sara.

Who are you?

Sven.

Thank you, Sven.

- Nice to meet you. - [Lena] Let's go, girls.

- [Sara speaks Arabic] - [Yusra] We've gotta swim now!

[beep]

[Sven] OK.

Ready, set...

[Yusra] Sara!

[Yusra] Why did you do that?

[Sara chuckles]

Very good. You can both swim.

We have two training sessions every day except Sunday.

[door buzzes]

Yep, this one.

[PA] Salaam alaikum.

If you think you might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder

or would like to discuss your mental health with a professional,

a nurse will be available on Saturday mornings in hangar five.

Thank you so much for all this.

Yeah, you're welcome. It's just whatever I could get.

But if you're serious, we need to go shopping,

find you things that properly fit.

You don't think I'm a serious swimmer?

I want you to write to the Syrian national team.

- [Sara] He's done enough. - I want you to tell them my times.

I don't want them to think I'm not training for the Olympics,

so please tell them I'll be ready for Rio.

OK. But there are some local swim meets I want us to aim for first. OK?

[playful screaming]

OK. Uh... [gasps] How do you sleep with all this noise?

We don't.

[announcement on PA]

[whistle blows]

[Sven] Yusra told me what happened, about you swimming across the Greek sea.

Hey, you both deserve a medal for that.

Yeah, but we weren't the only ones.

Just, um...

We're actually pretty lucky we survived. Many don't.

So...

Nah, I don't want a medal.

I'm... I'm sorry.

[sighs]

[Sven] Hey. Yusra, here. This is your room.

[Yusra] You're so kind.

The club management said you can use it until your papers come through.

[Yusra] Thank you.

[Sven] It's not much, I know, but no visiting teams.

But at least it's quiet. And it's close to the pool.

[Yusra] This is amazing.

And I'm your guarantor, so no parties, OK?

- Or I get in trouble. - [both laugh]

[chuckles] OK, settle in, then we're gonna see us for training.

Thank you so much.

- Welcome. - See you.

[speaking German]

Yeah!

[both chuckling]

[both exclaiming]

[Sven] OK, come.

You need a break.

- [Sara] No. - [Sven] It's not a question. Take a break.

[Sara sighs]

[Sven] Sara.

[Sara] My shoulder... [groans]

Mmm. [grunts]

It's always the swimming sisters.

The sisters did this. The sisters did that.

The sisters won this.

The sisters won that.

I still have to sleep with five strangers in a room.

Oh, stop it, Nizar. Eat something.

[Yusra] We don't like you being stuck there either.

But if only you could swim.

Exactly.

If only I could swim.

I can't do anything here.

And I'm not allowed to work until I get my papers.

I wish I never agreed with you to come here.

Even if you're one of the lucky ones and you actually make it,

there's nothing here to come for, nothing, except waiting and paperwork.

Unless you are the Mardini sisters.

[Yusra] My times are better back home.

[Sven] You had to escape a war. Of course it will set you back.

[whistles]

[Yusra] You tried, right?

For the Olympics.

- I saw your pictures on the wall. - Yeah. Yeah, I tried.

And why didn't you succeed? Was it talent or discipline?

[chuckles]

[Sven] It, um...

OK, I think it's not always so black and white.

Um...

I didn't believe in myself.

I was swimming to avoid losing, not to win.

Hey, you need to give yourself a break. Stop being so hard on yourself, OK?

Get some rest.

- Rest? - Yeah.

And what about Rio?

OK. How do I say this? Um...

Yusra, um... [sighs]

It's fantastic that you have dreams,

but we need to be realistic. I want to keep working with you,

but you're not going to be swimming for Syria.

You're not gonna make it to Rio.

I'm sorry.

There are other competitions we can focus on. We can focus on...

Yusra.

Yusra. Hey, it's step-by-step.

Yusra, that's not your session!

["Moodswung" by Murlo plays]

- [crash] - [Sara calls out]

- [Yusra] You forgot evening training. - [Sara] Yeah, I was busy.

Busy partying with friends? You know it's disrespectful to Sven.

You need to tell him instead of not showing up.

Do you realize that neither of us chose to swim?

- Do you remember starting? - I remember us loving swimming.

If we're not here to do our best, why did we bother coming?

Maybe it's not as easy being here for everyone else as it is for you.

FOREIGNERS OUT

Nizar.

You can't be on Arab time here.

- Sorry. Sorry. - It's been one hour!

[in Arabic] I'm not sleeping well.

- [in English] No? - [Emad] Nizar! Sara!

- Nizar! - Oh, Emad!

- No, you can't come through here. - [Sara] We're coming.

- We're coming. - OK.

How are we gonna pass?

I'm sorry.

- [Nizar] OK, sorry. - Come!

- Sorry. - Come!

Nizar, here. Sorry, they're my friends.

- Sorry, sorry. - Yalla.

This way. Sorry.

- Sorry. - How are you? I can't believe you're here.

- Yes, I'm here. - Sorry. Sorry. Hey, Emad!

- How are you? - I miss you, man. Oh my God.

[Nizar] You look like a pop star, man.

- What is this? - This is pop star.

[Emad] You look like refugee.

- Good to see you. - I miss you.

- You look great. How are you? - I'm good.

How's everything? How's everyone?

The others?

No, the others were turned back at the border.

- What? - There was nobody there to help us cross.

So we had to run,

and everybody split up. I didn't see them again.

[Sara] God, that's awful.

[Emad] Yeah.

[social worker] Your asylum request has now been registered.

You will receive a certificate for temporary permission to reside

until your application has been processed.

That's it? You don't have to ask questions?

Why we left Syria, anything?

You will be contacted for an interview in a few months.

Yeah, but how long until we know whether it's been successful or no?

We have a lot of people to process. It's currently taking a year or two.

Yeah, but we need to apply also for the family reunion.

My sister Yusra is still 17.

Yeah.

Your sister will be 18 in March.

That's not enough time.

We require a minimum of six months for family reunion.

Yeah, but my younger sister and my parents are still in Damascus.

It's very dangerous. They have to come here.

Syria's being bombed.

I'm sorry.

Please.

There's nothing I can do.

[Sara] Yusra.

[Yusra sobbing]

[Sara] Yusra, please.

It's a processing thing.

So, they have to come the same way we did?

We should never have left.

I lost vital training. My swimming is shit.

That's all you care about? Swimming?

[in Arabic] Think you're being selfish?

Selfish? I'm selfish? Mama, Baba, and Shahed are in my heart.

I keep thinking about them. But you don't, you just carry on.

You're reckless. They're in danger now because of you.

- You can talk. - What?

At least I have a goal.

What are you doing here?

You try to be cool and waste your time partying.

I don't know you anymore.

You're not swimming. You're not doing anything.

You're never going to achieve anything.

[Sven in English] Right, OK.

You missed the second turn.

Your frequency was too slow in the last 25 meters. What's wrong?

Nothing.

- Sure? - Yes.

OK. I wanted to tell you later,

but I have something that will make you smile.

What?

I heard the International Olympic Committee

gave a press conference, and they were announcing help for refugee athletes.

They're forming a refugee team for Rio.

OK.

I sent them your times and told them about your swim across the sea,

and, hey, if we work hard and your times improve,

you can get onto the team.

[breathes deeply]

What?

If you had the chance, would you want to compete

because you were good enough or because people felt sorry for you?

I want to go to the Olympics more than anything.

But when I go, I will be there swimming for my country.

[Yusra] I'm sorry.

About what I said last night.

You meant it.

Not in the way I said it.

You're so soft on the outside. So hard underneath.

But I kind of admire this about you.

I'm so happy you're swimming.

Sven called, by the way.

About the refugee team.

You should do it.

This was everything you ever wanted.

Not in the way I want it.

Yeah, but nothing has been the way we wanted it.

Why would this be any different?

I want to swim for Syria.

No.

That's what Baba wanted.

Baba ever tell you why he stopped swimming for Syria?

Military service.

He was actually very good.

At the beginning, I thought it was an excuse, but it wasn't.

And he had to lose two years of training just to carry a gun.

Life is not fair.

[sighs]

I'm Sara Mardini.

I have no country anymore.

This might be the only opportunity of your life.

Look at me.

Don't be stupid. Take it.

[knocking at door]

Oh, I was looking for you.

I wanted to go to the Olympics for Team Syria,

but if I can't, I'd like to swim for Team Sven.

If you still want me to,

even though I'm stupid, and I don't deserve it.

For 2020, we will train for Syria, but for 2016, I'm Team Refugee.

We have a lot of work to do.

Ready?

[Ezzat in Arabic] Tell me about your training.

[Yusra] Of course, Baba.

[Ezzat] I want you to describe every detail.

The feeling underwater.

Every stroke, every move you make.

[in English] I want to know what this German has done.

That was kind of "flop-flop." No, you have to...

The head is too high. Focus on the elbow.

OK?

What was my time?

Sven?

What was my time?

- We're going to Rio. - No.

- We're going to Rio. - We're going to Rio?

[triumphant laugh]

We're going to Rio!

[both shrieking in excitement]

- Hey! We are going to Rio! - [Yusra screams]

But I can't stop thinking about them.

I saw on Facebook that 100,000 people

had to cross the sea to Greece in the last two months.

You know, what we've been through isn't special.

Well...

What I saw on Facebook

was this place in Sonnenallee

run by this guy from Damascus.

He makes the same whipped ice cream that he made back there.

We should try it.

[mother in Arabic] An Olympian, my own daughter.

An Olympian, I don't believe it.

All that time at the poolside wasn't for nothing.

It's good. It's as it should be.

And Sara? You didn't have the times?

Even for this refugee team?

No, Baba. I didn't.

"Refugee team"? You say it like it doesn't count.

[conversation continues]

["Emta Njawzak Yamma" by DAM plays]

[song fades]

Nice tracksuit.

- [Yusra] What have you done? - It's good at the back?

[Yusra] It's beautiful.

[Sara] I always wanted it short.

Look.

I wanna tell you something.

I've decided...

I'm going back to Lesbos.

[in Arabic] What?

[in English] I found this organization, and I've been emailing them,

and they help everyone who's crossing.

- I want to be part of this. - No, Sara, please.

We need to move on, go forward.

- What are you doing? - I need to be there. To help everyone.

Give them water, shoes, everything we didn't have.

You know, Mama, Shahed, Baba will come the same way, maybe.

So you won't come with me to Rio?

Look, you were right. I've never done anything with my life.

This is the first time I feel this.

Look, you can move on.

You can become an Olympian.

I can't.

This is the right thing for me.

[pop music plays faintly on the radio]

Nizar.

[Nizar] What's this?

[Yusra] I was going to wait for your birthday.

Happy early birthday! [chuckles]

You remembered my birthday?

You're not allowed to give up.

- Thank you. - No, thank you.

Maybe you are my favorite cousin.

I don't believe you. You said this to Sara last week, so...

I think I'll get going. I'll leave you prepare your stuff.

[in Arabic] Uh... You've made us walk taller.

Don't worry about winning.

I am so proud of you.

Peace.

[in English] Bye.

[Olympic reporters speaking various languages]

["Brincadeira de Menina" by Mc Soffia & Rap Box plays]

[woman on PA] Next stop, the Olympic Village.

[man in English] Welcome to Rio de Janeiro.

11,238 athletes from 207 nations

gathering to take part in the Games of the 31st Olympiad,

the greatest sporting spectacle in the world.

[Yusra] Thank you.

- What's that? - I don't know!

[man] But one new team has been generating a special buzz.

The Refugee Olympic Team.

- So, Yusra, welcome to Rio. - Thank you.

- Oh my God, that's David Rudisha. - Who?

Don't you know anybody?

I've been swimming since I was a kid.

#2016.

[man on PA] Welcome to the world-famous Maracanã Stadium

in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the opening ceremony.

[woman on PA] They have traveled from all corners of the earth

and have spent a lifetime training for this moment.

Ladies and gentlemen, the great moment has arrived.

[announcer] We welcome the Refugee Olympic Team.

[people cheering and clapping]

[man on PA] A journey that has taken the flame

all the way from Greece to Rio.

[crowd cheers]

[fireworks explode]

[all chanting] Refugees!

[gunfire, explosions]

Sara!

[baby crying]

Sara!

[screams] Sara!

[breathes heavily]

[grunting]

[indistinct chatter]

I want to know, for everyone out there, what's been your main motivation...

[girl 1] That's the Syrian girl that's racing today.

[girl 2] I mean, I'm all for charity, but...

[girl 1] Exactly. The rest of us had to work to be here.

[Yusra on TV] Yeah, it's such an honor to be part of it.

It's a chance to be a voice and to give hope.

[cheering in background]

[phone beeps]

Hi.

[Sara] So, aren't you about to swim your race?

- Yes. - What are you doing sitting on your ass?

How do you...

[Sara speaks Arabic]

[Yusra screeches] I can't believe you're here!

This is crazy!

Sister.

[Yusra squeals]

How did you get here?

I contacted the sponsor of the refugee team,

and I told them that I was the sister of the world-famous Yusra Mardini.

- And I even flew business class. - What?!

- We were in economy. - I don't fly economy, habibi.

[chuckles]

- And what about Lesbos? - I'm gonna go straight after.

I wanna show you something.

[in Arabic] Good luck, my love. I'm not worried because you're lucky.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Remember everything I've taught you.

Yalla, Shahed.

I hope you win.

[in English] Good luck, Yusra. We love you. We miss you.

[speaking in Arabic]

So grown-up!

[Shada] Good luck.

[Sara] Actually, I didn't really wanna show you this one.

[Yusra] Why? Is she back in Eritrea?

Hm.

Is she safe?

[sighs]

[distant cheering]

I heard other swimmers talking.

They said I shouldn't be here.

They said I don't deserve it.

Well, they're right. You shouldn't.

You should be at the bottom of the Greek sea.

Or sleeping on the roadside of Hungaria.

Or you should be dead in a hole in Dariyya.

I just wanna be a swimmer.

You know Olympians are people who are supposed to do amazing things.

Don't do that.

Remember what Baba used to say?

"Find your lane. Swim your race."

It's all bullshit.

[man on PA] Please welcome the athletes in heat one

of the women's 100m butterfly.

[Sara] You should swim for all of us.

- [loud cheering] - [air horns sounding]

[Sara] You should swim for Baba

because he didn't.

Swim for me

because I couldn't.

Swim for Sven because he couldn't.

Swim for Shada.

Swim for Razan Haddad.

[man on PA] Swimming for Qatar in lane two, Nada Arakji.

And for everyone who died trying to find a new life.

Swim for them.

[man on PA] Swimming in lane three for Rwanda, Johanna Umurungi.

You're so much more than an Olympian.

[man on PA] Swimming in lane four for the Refugee Olympic Team,

Yusra Mardini.

[loud cheering]

[whistle blows three times]

[whistle blows]

[announcer] Take your marks.

[beep]

[crowd cheering]

[water gurgling]

[crowd cheering]

[sound muffles]

[water gurgles]

[muffled shots]

[crowd cheering]

- Yusra, go! - Faster!

[crowd whistling and cheering]

[whistles]

[water gurgling]

[cheering]

Come! Come! Come! Come! Come!

Come! Come! Come! Come!

[crowd erupts in cheers]

Yeah!

[screaming and cheering]

- [sobbing] - Yusra!

Yeah! Yeah! [laughing]

[both screaming] Yeah!

[announcers speaking in various languages on PA]

- Are you racing me? - Are we racing?

[on PA] ...finals will begin in 15 minutes...

Sara, please, I'm tired.

- No one's forcing you to race. - I hate you.

You love me!

Kiss my Olympic ass.

I'm gonna kick your Olympic ass!

[laughing] No! No!

[screams of joy]

[both laughing]

[sound fades]

["Mamnoun" by Bu Kolthoum plays]

[song fades]

["Faragh" by Yousef Kekhia plays]

[song fades]