Young Woman and the Sea: Film Review
I was very cynical about The Young Woman and the Sea because it hit many familiar beats but at some point, I stopped caring about that because the story won me over completely.
Set between 1912 and 1926, this biographical sports drama tells the story of Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Ederle (Daisy Ridley), a competitive swimmer in a time when women didn’t do such a thing. Despite this, Trudy sets out to become the first woman to cross the English Channel from France to England in 1926.
I was sceptical about Young Woman and the Sea at first because I felt like I had seen it all before and knew where it was going. There have been many films about people defying the odds and proving others wrong by completing an impressive sporting feat. But once Trudy got to France, I stopped caring about that and became invested in her journey. It was moving, inspirational and I ended up crying!
Because of their close release dates, it’s very easy to compare this to Nyad, starring Annette Bening as Diana Nyad, who swam from Cuba to Florida. There are certain moments in the swim that are similar but there’s plenty that sets it apart. It’s a different location and distance, but most importantly, it’s set in the 1920s rather than the modern day. That makes a huge difference. Trudy faced so much sexism from men thinking women can’t do it. And there is a big responsibility placed on her – if she fails, people will declare that no woman can do it.
The female empowerment angle is what sold me on the story. Trudy was an extraordinary woman ahead of her time who broke free from the expectations of patriarchal society and blazed the trail for women in sport. Trudy’s sister Meg (Tilda Cobham-Hervey), who was also a strong swimmer, shows how the story usually goes for women of the time – get married and become a homemaker. The relationship between the sisters is the heart of the film.
Ridley is terrific in this role – she nails the extensive physical requirements but also channels Trudy’s steely grit and determination and shows just how much she absolutely loves swimming.
Young Woman and the Sea, directed by Joachim Ronning, is an uplifting, empowering crowd-pleaser that made me feel like I can do anything.
In cinemas Friday 31st May