Young Woman and the Sea Review: It Is A Story Of Courage, Determination And The Fight For Gender Equality
Cast: Daisy Ridley, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Jeanette Hain
Director: Joachim Rønning
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars)
Young Woman and the Sea is the new Disney+ film available on the platform from July 19th. Based on the novel of the same name by Glenn Stout, Young Woman and the Sea is an exciting true story about the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Sports drama is one of the pillars of Hollywood genres. A subject that lends itself to being translated into the classic cinematic parable about success and the American dream, especially when it comes to individual sports, where it is easier to build a narrative around a well-defined protagonist. Naturally, in this context, boxing reigns supreme, both with completely invented stories, like the Rocky saga, and those inspired by real athletes, like Cinderella Man – A Reason to Fight (the ring-life metaphor, where you have to get up and never let yourself be defeated by difficulties, is, without a doubt, simple and effective). Trying to apply this tried and tested formula to a discipline like swimming – rarely seen in the cinema, perhaps also because of its not-so-immediate spectacular impact Young Woman and the Sea, available for streaming on Disney+ from July 19.
Based on the biographical book of the same name by Glenn Stout, the film tells the story of the historic sporting feat of Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle, the first female athlete to swim across the English Channel, beating the previous male record by two hours. Not only an important milestone for the world of swimming, but a real challenge to nature and, above all, to the backward mentality of the time (it was the 1920s and women were beginning, with difficulty, to claim their space even in sports, where they were still considered second-rate athletes). The story of unlikely success, between a desire for redemption and feminism, entrusted by the experienced producer Jerry Bruckheimer (who we recently spoke about for Axel F) to the team formed by the screenwriter Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can, The Lion King) and the director Joachim Rønning (Kon-Tiki, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ), with whom he had already collaborated for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (here too the aquatic element was important).
Young Woman and the Sea Review: The Story Plot
Born in 1905 in Coney Island to German immigrant parents of modest means, Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle just wanted to swim, in any way she could. But respectable girls were not supposed to engage in such an activity and, in any case, the girl was not allowed in municipal swimming pools, having barely survived a very serious case of measles. Despite this, Trudy, overcoming all kinds of difficulties with cunning and determination, would manage not only to win the gold medal at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris but, two years later, she would become the first woman in the world to swim across the English Channel.
After the tragic news of the death of some passengers on a ship, all women and none of them able to swim, Gertrude Anna Ederle (Jeanette Hain), mother of a New York family of German origins, decides to go against the wishes of her conservative husband Henry (Kim Bodnia) and take her two little daughters to swimming lessons. The passion for the aquatic discipline captures especially the youngest daughter, Trudy (Daisy Ridley), who begins to achieve important results in competitions. Intolerant of the snobbish attitude reserved for female athletes, the determined and stubborn girl from New York will decide to undertake a challenge ready to leave its mark and inspire generations to come swimming across the English Channel. A difficult feat, to say the least, accomplished, before her, only by five other people, naturally all males.
We were talking about Hollywood genres before, and Young Woman and the Sea fully falls into this category. A sports drama that fully embraces the philosophy of entertainment and spectacularization, even at the cost of sacrificing historical truthfulness for dramatic reasons (participation in the Paris Olympics, portrayed as a failure, actually earned Ederle a gold medal and two bronze medals, just as all the events related to the epic crossing are largely fictionalized). Historical events are bent to serve the film’s message of female revenge, underlined over and over again, building a classic moral tale, precisely, Hollywood, in the most classic sense of the term. Indeed, perhaps it would be more correct to use the term “Hollywood fairy tale”, given that this Disney production does not shy away from fairy-tale tones.
Young Woman and the Sea Review and Analysis
The structure of Young Woman and the Sea follows the classic structure of certain sports dramas, almost to the point of being superimposable, for example, to that of an episode of the aforementioned Rocky series. A general presentation of our underdog and the hostile context in which he finds himself, followed by the training phase, complete with a training montage dedicated to the unorthodox training (the women’s swimming team trains in a pool hidden in a boiler room, under the guidance of Sian Clifford, Fleabag’s poor sister ), and then moving on to the first victories (the races alternate underwater tracking shots, aimed at following the action, with the reactions of the public in the stands). The second half of the two-hour film is entirely dedicated to the challenge of the crossing, taking up the classic formula of the hero’s fall with consequent redemption (Rocky first loses, then wins), a burning failure – here caused by the envious coach played by Christopher Eccleston, now an expert in antagonist roles – followed by a triumphant success.
It is precisely during the challenge of the Channel that Young Woman and the Sea gives the best of itself, staging a crossing full of obstacles, between impervious currents and impenetrable banks of fog, capable of keeping the viewer glued to the seat. An undertaking followed closely by the media of the time, to spread the developments of the event, in the shortest possible time, using a complex system of messages in bottles, carrier pigeons, and communications via telegraph (for the writer, one of the most curious details of the entire film). Like many other films of the biographical and sports genre, Young Woman and the Sea certainly sins of a certain didacticism, but still manages the difficult task of not boring for almost all of its considerable duration, also avoiding making its easy moral excessively cloying.
Young Woman and the Sea is a film that tells a story of extraordinary courage and emancipation, showcasing the determination of Trudy Ederle, a young woman who defied not only physical difficulties – a potentially fatal case of measles as a child – but also gender prejudice, to pursue her dream: to become a successful swimmer and swim across the English Channel. Directed by Joachim Rønning, the film shows how the men of the time, often misunderstanding and ignoring the real needs of female athletes, hindered the path of Trudy and her companions; not only that: the malicious rumors and tabloid headlines demonstrate how violent sea waves (or a school of jellyfish) represent the least of the dangers when you find yourself in a world founded on patriarchy. Despite this, Ederle proves to be enterprising and strong-willed, always managing to find a way to overcome obstacles, supported by a deep sense of self but also by her hard-working and stubborn mother Gertrude (Jeanette Hain), who never allows her daughter to throw in the towel.
In this sense, the film is not only a celebration of women’s sports but also sends a powerful message of perseverance, a theme that should resonate with anyone who has ever chased a goal, making Young Woman and the Sea a must-see for everyone. Joachim Rønning’s film is a thrilling tale that keeps the viewer in suspense until the very end (although the epilogue is well known, as it is a true story). On land, we follow the touching story of Trudy Ederle, a sickly little girl who manages to overcome obstacles and prejudices to establish herself as a swimmer. At sea, however, the film takes us on a breathtaking adventure during her crossing of the English Channel: each stroke of Trudy is followed with palpable tension, as she faces tiredness, the impetuous current, and a school of jellyfish. Rønning’s direction and Oscar Faura’s crystalline photography manage to capture the intensity of each moment, culminating in a gripping final sequence in which our protagonist swims, completely alone and the dark, through dangerous shallows, a moment that, even though she knows she will make it, does not fail to move us deeply.
The choice of Joachim Rønning as director is particularly appropriate for Young Woman and the Sea. The Norwegian director, with his delicate touch and his attentive eye for detail, manages to infuse the film with vivid realism. The scenes in which Trudy faces the icy and impetuous waves of the English Channel are so well realized that the viewer feels every shiver and every drop of water. This scenic realism, combined with a faithful representation of the 1920s, allows us to worthily celebrate the epic nature of Trudy Ederle’s feat, making the film not only a biography but a real journey through time. Despite the celebratory imprint that characterizes the film, Young Woman and the Sea maintains a fluid and linear narrative. Even if it lacks great twists, Trudy Ederle’s story is presented with such authenticity and emotional depth that it still captures the audience’s attention. The film manages to convey the essence of Trudy’s story, emphasizing not only her extraordinary sporting achievement but also the broader meaning of her feat: a fight for women’s emancipation and the recognition of women in sports.
The film offers an inspiring model, a story that makes us dream of a better future. The representation of Trudy as a determined, courageous, and resilient figure is particularly significant in an era in which strong and independent female figures are needed more than ever. Daisy Ridley, with her serene and reassuring face, proves to be a perfect choice to embody Trudy Ederle. Her interpretation intensely conveys all the determination, courage, and vulnerability of the swimmer, making the character of Trudy incredibly human and close to the viewer. Ridley manages to portray not only the athlete but also the young woman who fights against the adversities of a society that often relegates her to the margins. Her performance is touching and convincing, bringing to the screen a Trudy who is not only a sports heroine, but also a symbol of hope and change.
Young Woman and the Sea is a film that goes beyond the simple celebration of a sports record. It is a story of courage, determination, and the fight for gender equality. With careful and sensitive direction, an engaging narrative, and an extraordinary protagonist, Rønning’s film presents itself as an inspirational work, capable of moving and making us reflect. A film that celebrates not only Trudy Ederle’s feat but also the strength and resilience of all women who, like her, have challenged conventions and opened new paths for future generations. Young Woman and the Sea is the story of a young woman who defied society and nature, relying only on herself. Rønning’s film is a tale of courage and great inspiration, perhaps a little sweetened at the end (after all, it is still fictionalized, otherwise we would have to rely on a documentary), but it still succeeds in its narrative intent: involves, and entertaining the audience, pushing them to root for Trudy. Daisy Ridley is the heart of the film, and who better than her could play a young and independent warrior?
Young Woman and the Sea Review: The Last Words
Young Woman and the Sea brings to the screen a story of courage and emancipation, made even more exciting by the masterful performance of Daisy Ridley, who most will remember for her role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. “Young Woman and the Sea” is more than a celebration of a sporting record. It is a story of courage, determination, and the fight for gender equality. With careful and sensitive direction, an engaging narrative, and an extraordinary protagonist, Rønning’s film emerges as an inspiring work that can move and make us think. The film celebrates not only Trudy Ederle’s feat but also the strength and resilience of all women who, like her, have challenged convention and paved new paths for future generations.
