Aspiring Olympic swimmer Erez (Omer Perelman Striks) cites Madonna as his role model and spends his spare time vogueing in hot-pink tracksuit bottoms. But at the elite training camp where five talented young men compete for a slot on the Israeli national team, he soon learns to hide his sexuality. “Don’t even joke about being like that,” says his coach.
With a pop-pomp score that references the Pet Shop Boys, and a colour palette that’s an explosion of peppy citrus tones, The Swimmer, which is based on Israeli director Adam Kalderon’s own experiences, confronts homophobia in the world of elite sport. It’s a theme that has been explored before, but Kalderon stamps his personality on the film, in particular with a fierce and fabulous climactic dance sequence.
In cinemas now and on demand from 16 May