Top Cast
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Fayçal Zafi
Alfred Nakache (voice)
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Jessica Jaouiche
Paule Nakache (voice)
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Yassine Mestaoui
Young Alfred Nakache (voice)
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Alexandre Liebe
Sports Commentator (voice)
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Johannes Oliver Hamm
Sports Commentator (voice)
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Hocine Ben
Sports Commentator / Police Officer / Soldier (voice)
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Olivier Peissel
Sports Commentator / Police Officer / Soldier (voice)
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Foued Kemeche
Coach (voice)
Overview
A Jewish North African middle-aged man's swim in the sea triggers memories of his earlier life as an Olympic swimmer before and after World War II.
Rating
1 Reviews
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CinemaSerf7 Jan 19, 2026There’s a really quite sad story contained within this short, sketch-style, animation. It’s inspired by the life of Alfred Nakache. He was a French Algerian, dark skinned and Jewish swimmer who just happened to be at the top of his game just as the munificence of National Socialism was extending throughout Europe. Initially his fellow competitors rally around as he becomes the victim of discrimination, but as that becomes more enshrined in law he, his wife and child have to resort to desperate measures to stay safe. When these don’t work, the war duly takes it’s toll. Against a backdrop of his constant swimming, we learn much about this young man - originally afraid of water, of his family and of his ultimate situation and by using the constant presence of water throughout, we are shown some of the joys and menace that have followed his life. Even a portentous Swastika makes an appearance. His swimming stroke is the butterfly, but perhaps there is something of the chrysalis about the man’s tale?
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