Introduction

The true story sports drama is a tried-and-true genre, with Disney being the most prolific. Starting with Cool Runnings (Jon Turteltaub, 1993), they have released them regularly as part of their theatrical slate. These films often make my top ten films of the year, mostly because of how inspiring they are. I think most people have a genre that speaks to them more than others, and this is certainly mine. And thankfully, Joachim Renning’s Young Woman and the Sea (new on Disney+ on July 19th) is the best in the genre since McFarland, USA (Niki Caro, 2015).

Synopsis

Young Woman and the Sea is the story of Trudy Ederle (Daisy Ridley), the first woman to swim across the English Channel and is based on the novel of the same name. Trudy grows up in Manhattan to German immigrant parents (Kim Bodnia and Jeantte Hain). Her father, her health, and organized swimming all are constant stumbling blocks to her competing. Eventually, through true grit she convinces all of them one by one to let her.

Eventually, Trudy gets the idea to try and swim the English Channel after seeing a newsreel of Bill Burgess (Stephen Graham) doing it for the third time. As she prepares to overcome the odds against her, we learn what her true character is.

Review

As with most sports dramas, the theme of the film is perseverance in the face of almost impossible odds. Trudy swims against the current of her time and the assumed gender roles of 1920’s America. It could be that this film so resonated with me because I watched it with my two oldest daughters and the idea of someone telling them what they can’t do brings pain to my heart.

Daisy Ridley is among the best young actors working today and her performance here is among her best. Going in, I thought it might be hard to get used to her with a Brooklyn accent. However, I quickly forgot it was her and was enveloped in the story almost immediately. The rest of the acting was fantastic as well, with Christopher Eccleston giving an uncharacteristically subtle performance.

This film was originally made for Disney+. However, when test audiences gave it scores through the roof, Disney did the right thing and gave it a theatrical release. For a movie destined for streaming, the budget must have been high, because the production design is just so good. It was so easy to be wrapped up in the story because the sets and costumes were so meticulously constructed.

I will be watching out for the up-and-comer composer of this film, Amelia Warner. Her score is among the best of the year and one that I can listen to on repeat. Her style seems to be a combo of Howard Shore and Enya, which I never thought could have worked in an earnest way. It’s both unique and inspiring.

The Bottom Line

Young Woman and the Sea is among the summer’s best films and the best sports drama in years. It is inspiring and moving till the end.