The story of competitive swimmer Gertrude Ederle, who, in 1926, was the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel.The story of competitive swimmer Gertrude Ederle, who, in 1926, was the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel.The story of competitive swimmer Gertrude Ederle, who, in 1926, was the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations total
Raphael J. Bishop
- Young Henry Jr. Ederle
- (as Raphael Bishop)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
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Featured reviews
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.
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.
This movie was unbelievably good and I cried through the entire last 30 min . The story is one of perseverance and guts , sacrifice and valor and of the power of allowing yourself to be different and fight .
First of all I cannot believe I had never heard this story before - I am a HUGE sports fan and this has slipped through the cracks . The story sticks very closely to truth with some artistic liberties taken but for the most part - it remains true to the original . The message and feeling and moral is true and the feeling is true . It is so easy to forget how much sacrifice and drive and challenging of society went into the opportunities that we as women and girls have today in sports because of women like this and she was able to do it because of the strong women around her - this movie made me thankful and humble .
The casting was awesome and so was the character development . Loved the whole family and you hated the "villains " the chemistry between sisters and that bond really made the movie and Ridley was great . Both "Eppy" and Trudy's mom were hard core women and then were courageous and authentic .
The best scene in the movie involves Meg helping Trudy and realizing not every dream is the same and you can live yours and accept life happily and also support those around you .
My only complaint comes in that it felt a bit ... juvenile ? Low production quality ? Not the best script writing / dialogue specifically ? I am not sure but I loved it regardless and will watch it again and again.
Swim towards the light and remember " there's no place like sports "
First of all I cannot believe I had never heard this story before - I am a HUGE sports fan and this has slipped through the cracks . The story sticks very closely to truth with some artistic liberties taken but for the most part - it remains true to the original . The message and feeling and moral is true and the feeling is true . It is so easy to forget how much sacrifice and drive and challenging of society went into the opportunities that we as women and girls have today in sports because of women like this and she was able to do it because of the strong women around her - this movie made me thankful and humble .
The casting was awesome and so was the character development . Loved the whole family and you hated the "villains " the chemistry between sisters and that bond really made the movie and Ridley was great . Both "Eppy" and Trudy's mom were hard core women and then were courageous and authentic .
The best scene in the movie involves Meg helping Trudy and realizing not every dream is the same and you can live yours and accept life happily and also support those around you .
My only complaint comes in that it felt a bit ... juvenile ? Low production quality ? Not the best script writing / dialogue specifically ? I am not sure but I loved it regardless and will watch it again and again.
Swim towards the light and remember " there's no place like sports "
10naregian
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.
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.
Went into this feeling a bit lukewarm to be honest. Expecting a schmaltzy Disney production looking to over eagerly tug at viewers heart strings. Well, heart strings were indeed plucked, like an old second hand guitar. But it was done earnestly and at no point do you feel you are being emotionally played with.
"based on a true story", it announces from the first screen, so those objecting to how far it was from the truth, get back in your box. After googling Gertrude Ederle, this viewer did not feel in an way duped by the dramatization presented of her story.
Not much to say regarding the script, production, acting etc, other than I for one found nothing to criticize, it was just so good in all respects. Slightly preachy in regards to misogyny, women's rights?, of course it is, it was the 1920s, yet a century later there are some in the USA that would have the clocks rolled back in that regard. Which is why it is a shame that this movie is not getting a wider release.
Watch it with family for a great shared occasion, or alone if you need inspiration, or with a bunch of mates...don't worry, if you feel a tear coming on, pretend you have something in your eye.
"based on a true story", it announces from the first screen, so those objecting to how far it was from the truth, get back in your box. After googling Gertrude Ederle, this viewer did not feel in an way duped by the dramatization presented of her story.
Not much to say regarding the script, production, acting etc, other than I for one found nothing to criticize, it was just so good in all respects. Slightly preachy in regards to misogyny, women's rights?, of course it is, it was the 1920s, yet a century later there are some in the USA that would have the clocks rolled back in that regard. Which is why it is a shame that this movie is not getting a wider release.
Watch it with family for a great shared occasion, or alone if you need inspiration, or with a bunch of mates...don't worry, if you feel a tear coming on, pretend you have something in your eye.
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!
Did you know
- TriviaThe film deviates from actual events a few times, presumably for dramatic effect. First, the film implies that Ederle's performance at the Paris Olympics was a disappointment, with her winning a single Bronze Medal. She won two Bronzes and Gold in the 4 x 100m Relay. She and her teammates participated in the US team's welcome home parade. Second, almost precisely a year passed between Ederle's first and second attempts to swim the English Channel, with her returning to New York between the two attempts. The film also omits the fact that, as a "warm-up" for her first attempt, Ederle swam 22 miles from Battery Park (NY) to Sandy Hook (NJ) in a time that wasn't beaten for 81 years.
- Goofs"Ain't We Got Fun", wasn't performed until 1920 and published until 1921. In the movie it is shown being sung before 1920.
- Quotes
Young Trudy Ederle: If Meg swims, I swim!
- ConnectionsReferenced in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Nominees of the Big 50th (2023)
- SoundtracksWaiting for a Train
Written by Jimmie Rodgers
- How long is Young Woman and the Sea?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- La joven y el mar
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $500,000
- Gross worldwide
- $581,725
- Runtime
- 2h 9m(129 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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