Watch A Drowning Man

A Drowning Man is a 2017 short film that tells the story of a Syrian refugee named Malek who works as a diver in Athens. The film is directed by Mahdi Fleifel and stars Atef Alshafei (Malek), Jalal Qaniry (Hassan), and Thymios Koukios (Manolis). The movie begins with Malek walking through the streets of Athens carrying his diving gear. He arrives at a café where he meets his friend, Hassan, who is also a refugee from Syria. Malek is desperate for money as he owes a debt to a sea captain who helped him and Hassan flee from Syria. When Hassan discovers that Malek is willing to dive illegally for money, he reluctantly agrees to help. The two men end up getting a job from a Greek man named Manolis, who runs a diving school in Athens, but is often drunk and unreliable.

Throughout the film, Malek is faced with challenges both in and out of the water. He is forced to dive into polluted and dangerous water, searching for objects that Manolis and his customers have lost. At one point, he even risks his life diving into a tank in a power plant, where the water is thick with oil and pollution, to retrieve a lost wedding ring.

Despite the dangers, Malek continues to dive, hoping to earn enough money to pay off his debt and start a new life. Along the way, he also seeks solace in his memories of home and family, and in his dreams of a better future.

As the film progresses, tensions between Malek and Hassan rise as Hassan becomes more and more disillusioned with the dangerous nature of the work. The relationship between Malek and Manolis also becomes strained, as Malek begins to question the legality of the work he is doing and the way he is being treated.

Despite the challenging subject matter, A Drowning Man is a beautiful and poignant film. The underwater shots are particularly stunning, capturing the beauty and danger of the often murky and polluted waters of Athens.

The performances in the film are also outstanding, with Atef Alshafei delivering a powerful and nuanced portrayal of Malek. He brings a quiet intensity to the role, conveying the very real and desperate stakes of Malek's situation without relying on melodrama or exaggerated emotions.

Ultimately, A Drowning Man is a film about the struggle for survival and the lengths that people will go to in order to create a better life for themselves and their families. It is a heartbreaking and thought-provoking exploration of the refugee crisis and the many challenges that refugees face as they try to rebuild their lives in a foreign land.

In conclusion, A Drowning Man is a must-see film that offers a powerful and emotional portrayal of the struggles that refugees face in the modern world. It is a film that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who sees it.

A Drowning Man is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.