Young Woman and the Sea

I enjoyed this movie and I recommend it to everybody who wants to enjoy 2h of a very very good movie. This is the story of Trudy, a woman who defied all boundaries to prove to the skeptics that she was chosen, gifted with the ability to swim as swiftly as a marlin. Trudy Ederle's persistence and determination became a testament to the heights a human being can reach. She battled the treacherous waters of the English Channel, overcoming not only the physical challenges but also the doubts of those who believed such a feat was beyond her capabilities. Through relentless training and an unyielding spirit, Trudy shattered records and made history, showing the world the true power of human perseverance and fortitude. Hero!

I left the theater thinking Young Woman and the Sea will win best picture. Either the story of Gertrude Ederle is just that good, or the director has created a masterpiece, lightning in the bottle, whatever you want to call it. Daisy Ridley brings us a brave, if not slightly insane, young woman who through circumstance, bad luck, and bad people, managed to persevere. In a way, it was like the movie Gravity, but in 1926 and out at sea; and Gertrude also had to deal with the sexism of the time. A line out of the movie, "I'm saving up for a telephone." When asked why, he answered, "I don't know. I just want one." So old-timey yet very much today. Everything this movie did, worked.

Terrible title aside - I'm really happy to see Disney making this type of movie again! Young Woman and the Sea could have been made at basically any point in the last 50-60 years exactly as is, and that's a compliment. The kind of well-made, heartfelt "family entertainment" that studios used to release regularly but not so much anymore. While I wish it got a wide theatrical release (it deserves to), I'm still happy I got to enjoy this wonderful and inspirational film! Quite shocked by how much I was pulled in by Young Woman and the Sea. Daisy Ridley's endearing performance as Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel, is a constant delight. Possibly my favorite performance from her yet. But the real star is Amelia Warner's stirring score that gives this cliched but inspiring true sports story its heart and vigor. There's nothing revelatory here but as far as swimming biopics go, I at least found it to be an enjoyable watch!

Young Woman and the Sea is a traditional Hollywood biopic that is in part a sporting drama, but also a survival story and all these elements combine well to inspire.

Whilst I am frustrated that so much dramatic licence is taken during some of the key moments, the story and message is good. Importantly, if it prompts people to do their own research into facts about the people and events portrayed, that's a positive outcome. Those who take Hollywood movies at face value and believe everything they see deserve to spend their life being misled.

Some people might argue it lays the theme of female empowerment on too thick (and maybe they are right), but that's certainly not a negative for me. I am a father of a daughter who swims in a class full of competitive older boys and each one of them try their best to make sure they never finish behind her. Sometimes she beats them, most times they win and it can be disheartening for her. This is exactly the type of film she needed to see to remind her that she's not inferior and to persevere. In all facets of life.

It also inspired me... to never swim long distances in the sea again! The filmmakers do a brilliant job capturing how treacherous a challenge it is. (In my young backpacking days I almost died swimming from a coral reef in Malaysia back to an island) The experience of swimming in open water is as terrifying as the film portrays and people who have completed immense challenges like the Channel swim deserve to be immortalised on screen. The cinematography, editing and art direction is all superb.

Daisy Ridley leads it with a strong central performance and is supported well by other cast members, particularly Stephen Graham, who entertains in virtually every scene.

Think of a list of movies coming out nowadays that are perfectly family friendly, make a strong point, have almost universal emotional appeal, and are actually good. It's not a long list, but this movie is surely on it.

The story may seem formulaic at first, but that formula works wonders for a reason. The heart of this movie bleeds through its rich emotion and clever direction. The ensemble cast provide a strong blend of timely humor, intense rigidity, and admirable courage.

Chiefly, Daisy Ridley's performance is nothing short of masterful.

This movie might have suffered from a bad marketing strategy as I fear not many will see it for lack of knowledge of its existence. What a shame.

This movie is everything you want in a movie. Moving, engaging, well paced, funny, meaningful, important, and impactful. What a great, great movie.