I know you may be saying to yourself, “What is YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA? I have barely heard about it.” Well buckle in, because this inspiringly beautiful true story is one of the most underrated films of the year… and one of the best. To say it affected me would be an understatement. I was an emotional mess at various times throughout the movie; when you get to see the real footage of the woman behind the story, it was over for me. With its heart-wrenching performances and sentimental (yet not too cheesy) script, YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA is a movie I am determined to help find its audience.
Set primarily in the 1920s, the film tells the story of Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle (Daisy Ridley), the first woman to swim across the English Channel… and in record time. I know that is a bit of a spoiler for what is inevitably going to happen in the film. However, the real story is about Trudy’s incredible journey to get there, facing unimaginable obstacles—the biggest of which being a woman in a society that refused to take her or her sport seriously.
Daisy Ridley, who also produced the film, may have gotten her big break in STAR WARS, but I think her performance as Trudy is her most affecting to date. From the scenes showing her resilience in the face of skepticism, to the brutal swimming scenes, which appeared to actually be filmed in the open water elements, Ridley proved that she has the range to carry character-driven films like this. And I love that much like her experience as Rey in STAR WARS, the film highlighted Trudy’s own work as a role model to young girls and how women’s sports wouldn’t be where it is today without her legacy.
Exploring themes of womanhood, the love of family, and perseverance, screenwriters Jeff Nathanson and Glenn Stout expertly walk the tonal tightrope. They are able to balance the inspiring, emotional, comedic, and dramatic moments without veering too hard into cheesiness (though let’s be real, some of the more schmaltzy, emotional scenes were the ones that impacted my softy heart the most). They smartly establish the Ederle’s family dynamic as the heart of the film, which starts from the perspective of a strong supportive mother and further evolves over the duration of the story.
YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA is a hidden gem, and the exact kind of movie that critics like me should be amplifying. Whether the film finds its audience through word of mouth during its cinematic run or takes off when it is inevitably put on Disney+, I imagine this film is going to be an enduring, feel-good favorite that you will be excited to recommend. More than that, the film provides the perfect teaser to encourage you to learn more about people like Trudy—heroes who made remarkable strides that changed history, but whose stories aren’t widely known. Hollywood doesn’t make these kinds of movies anymore, and I am excited that Disney took a chance on this one.
My Review: A–
