HAMBURG, GERMANY — For most children, learning to swim is a fun pastime and a rite of passage. But for young refugees attempting the treacherous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea, “swimming like a fish” is a literal life skill to be put to the ultimate test in a desperate struggle to survive. To highlight the dangers facing these children and support its vital rescue mission, NGO Sea-Eye has launched Like a Fish, a powerful new film directed by Oliver Bernotat and produced by Simon & Paul.
Launched on UNICEF World Children’s Day, a shocking statistic inspired Like a Fish: since 2018, over 1,500 children have drowned or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea while fleeing to Europe.
In the film, which opens on a typical beach scene with giggling children, parasols, and families frolicking in the water, a father encourages his son to swim “like a fish” in the gentle waves. But the moment of joy when he swims off independently soon turns dark — as the scene shifts to the child who is now alone in a vast ocean wearing a life vest — desperately trying to reach land while repeating his dad’s mantra: “like a fish.”
Simple yet devastatingly effective, the film shines a spotlight on an issue that has all but disappeared from the headlines — with the powerful reminder that no child should have to swim for their lives. Adding a further sense of authenticity, the film was shot in Tunisia with a Tunisian cast, one of the major jumping-off points on the deadly Mediterranean migrant route.
Almost two years in the making, the film was created for Sea-Eye — an NGO dedicated to rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean, saving lives, and offering hope — on an entirely pro-bono basis. As well as directing the film, Oliver developed the creative concept alongside creative director Ibrahem Ghareib. Production was handled by Hamburg-based production and creative studio Simon & Paul, with music by Thomas Muis from 2WEI Music.
“Almost a decade after the world was moved to tears by photos of a drowned Syrian toddler, the topic of child refugees is no longer grabbing headlines — despite the fact that, since 2018, over 1,500 children have drowned or gone missing in the Mediterranean. That’s why, for UNICEF’s World Children’s Day, we wanted to put a human face to the statistics as well as spotlight the vital rescue work of SeaEye. This was a two-year labor of love with a straightforward message at its heart: no child should have to swim for their life,” said Simon Fessler, Executive Producer and Managing Partner at Simon & Paul.
Oliver commented, “This project was really close to our hearts and quite a challenge to pull off, but we’re really proud of the result and grateful for everyone who contributed to this important message. I wanted it to feel like a short film, a story that pulls you in without knowing where it’s going to take you.”
CREDITS:
Production Company: Simon & Paul
Director: Oliver Bernotat
Executive Producer: Simon Fessler, Tobias Paul
Producer: Tobias Stiegler
Script & Concept: Oliver Bernotat & Ibrahem Ghareib
Director of Photography: Jan David Gunther
Editor: Nik Kohler (Cabin Edit)
Colorgrading: Joseph Bicknell (Company 3)
Music: 2WEI Music
Composer: Thomas Muis
VFX: Replayboys
