Empowering, uplifting, and inspiring, Joachim Rønning‘s Young Woman and the Sea tells the incredible story about the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel. 

Young Woman and the Sea Review

In August 1926, Trudy Ederle, 19-year-old New Yorker and daughter of German immigrants, became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Before her, only five men had ever finished the harrowing 21-mile journey from Cape Gris-Nez France to Kingsdown Beach in England. That might not sound that bad but when you take into account unpredictable tides, freezing water, currents that seem hell-bent on drawing you, and swarms of jellyfish it starts to become clear this is no ordinary test of tenacity. When Trudy swam a total of 35 miles that day, beating the men's times by almost two hours, she fought it all and the rampant sexism that circled her like sharks on chum. Trudy accomplished this and so much more in a time when most women weren't even allowed to swim, let alone competitively.

Everyone (myself included) loves a good Cinderella story and director Joachim Rønning working with a script by Jeff Nathanson delivers a classic Disney textbook example. It's a feel-good, family-friendly fare in the same vein as Queen of Katwe and Cool Runnings. Immediately, Rønning endears Trudy to the audience, making us care about her, her family, while filling us with a passion to see her succeed. And it is oh so exciting (and satisfying) to watch her attain victory while seeing the naysayers get their comeuppance. But before the scene where she makes it across the channel, it's 1914 and Trudy and her family are trying to survive life in the big city. For fun, the family visits Coney Island where so many kids are enjoying swimming. Trudy, a measles survivor, wants to learn to swim but women don't really do that, it would be indecent after all.

When her mother Gertrud (Jeanette Hain) learns of a disastrous ferry accident (one that seems to be loosely based on the 1904 General Slocum Disaster, which was heartbreaking) that involved hundreds of women and girls dying because they couldn't swim, she decides Trudy (played by Olivia Abercrombie as a child, Daisy Ridley as adult) and her sister Meg (played by Lilly Aspell as a child, Tilda Cobham-Hervey as an adult) will learn how to swim. The girls eventually join the WSA and are coached by Lottie Epstein (Sian Clifford), where at first Meg outshines Trudy. But once Trudy finds her footing, she turns into a champion swimming, breaking world records, and getting invited to the 1924 Olympic Games.

One would think being invited to the Olympics would earn Trudy some deference from her fellow swimmers but it didn't. She was still a woman, and her coach, Jabez Wolffe (Christopher Eccleston), sabotages her and the rest of her team by focusing on modesty instead of training. So they spend 3 weeks at sea unable to prep for their races. The predicted result is a less than stellar outing at the Olympics. Trudy is briefly broken but soon after some encouragement from Meg decides she's going to prove women deserve not only a place but respect in professional sports by swimming across the English Channel.

Daisy Ridley gives an incredible performance channeling the can-do spirit and tenacity of Trudy Ederle. Ridley embodies the strength and grace of Trudy, not just in the physicality but her mentality as well. After all she has faced thanks to the toxic men online, Ridley was the perfect choice for this role. It's not hard to think those conquering smiles aren't just aimed at those who said Trudy couldn't do it but to the ones who said the same about her. There is also a strong chemistry between Ridley and Cobham-Hervey that is the beating heart of the film. The sisters are the closest of friends whose relationship rides the tides of growing up. Even when these two are competing it never feels like one thinks more highly of themselves than the other. It's sweet, real, and keeps everything grounded. 

Clifford gives a sincere performance as the woman who had a massive influence on Trudy. Hain however almost outshone Ridley for me. She plays Trudy's mother with a steadfastness and determination that makes it clear this is where Trudy got hers from. With a straight back and a stare that could make even the most sexist man whimper, Hain exudes all the qualities of a great mom– loving, fierce, and protective. Watch her facial expressions and you will find yourself laughing more than a few times. One of her looks at the end, aimed at her husband, was pure fun. Wives, we know that look. 

As with any movie of this type, it's not meant to be a history lesson, but rather something that both entertains and inspires its audience to learn more. The film is adapted from Glenn Stout’s book “Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World.” For movie purposes certain events are adjusted in the timeline in order to maximize the emotional impact and other aspects are even omitted. For instance, Trudy actually won a Gold Medal at the 1924 Olympics, but that doesn't bolster her need to prove herself like ending the Olympic story with she's not the greatest. Epstein's role as the manager of the women's swim team during the Olympics is also altered. By removing her from that role, Nathanson's script highlights the very real and blatant sexism they all faced.

Cinematographer Óscar Faura captures the essence of the 20s and the massiveness of the untamable ocean, all while giving an intimate look into Trudy's mind, through Ridley's captivating performance. Amelia Warner's score delivers that true life underdog zeal that accentuates every pivotable moment in the film. It all works together along with Rønning's direction to drive home every obstacle, triumph, and heartbreak Trudy faced in her quest to defy societal standards and forge her own path. 

VERDICT

Young Woman and the Sea pulls off the feat of telling an incredible story about an even more remarkable woman. It's empowering, inspiring, and uplifting, everything we want in a sports film full of can-do attitudes and overcoming insurmountable odds. Although it streamlines her life, it grabs us immediately, pulling us into the water to follow in Trudy's current. We are cheering for her, celebrating her wins, and wishing we could slap some sense into the condescending men that surrounded her. At the end of the day, thanks to the performances, direction, and concise script, I think the Queen of the Waves would be proud.

Young Woman and the Sea opens in theaters May 31. It is rated PG for thematic elements, some language and partial nudity with a runtime of 129 minutes.