Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
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A determined swimmer overcomes sexism and physical exhaustion to become the first woman to swim across the English Channel.
The story
In 1914 New York City, after witnessing a tragic ferry capsize, Gertrude Ederle's mother resolves to teach her children to swim for survival. Despite being barred from the water due to illness, Trudy Ederle recovers and becomes fascinated with the sport. By age 12, she begins training under the headstrong Charlotte Epstein at the Women's Swimming Association. Trudy quickly begins breaking world records, while her sister Meg's progress remains modest. In 1924, Trudy is offered a spot in the Paris Olympics, but faces a sexist coach who hinders her training, leading to a disappointing bronze medal finish and a subsequent quest for a greater feat.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1914 New York City, Trudy Ederle witnesses a ferry capsize and her mother resolves to teach the children to swim. Trudy recovers from measles and begins training at age 12 under Charlotte Epstein, eventually breaking multiple world records. In 1924, she competes in the Paris Olympics but is hampered by a sexist coach, Jabez Wolffe, winning only bronze medals. Seeking a greater challenge, she seeks sponsorship to swim the English Channel. After a successful New York to New Jersey trial, she trains in France. During her first attempt in July 1926, Wolffe sabotages her by spiking her tea. After being rescued by Bill Burgess, who recognizes Wolffe's duplicity, Trudy secretly prepares for a second attempt. On August 6, 1926, she attempts the crossing again with Burgess as her guide. Despite jellyfish stings and navigating the Goodwin Sands alone in the dark, she reaches Dover. She is greeted by townspeople with bonfires and eventually returns to New York to a ticker-tape parade. The film concludes by noting she set the world record at 14 hours and 31 minutes, later dedicated her life to teaching deaf children to swim, and died in 2003.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 129
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Joachim Rønning
- Writers
- Jeff Nathanson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Daisy Ridley · Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle; Olive Abercrombie · Young Trudy Ederle; Christopher Eccleston · Jabez Wolffe; Stephen Graham · Bill Burgess; Tilda Cobham-Hervey · Margaret "Meg" Ederle; Lilly Aspell · Young Meg; Kim Bodnia · Henry Ederle; Jeanette Hain · Gertrude Anna Ederle
- Genres
- biographical; sports drama
- Themes
- female empowerment; perseverance; overcoming sexism
- Tone and mood
- rousing; compelling
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; sports drama; historical
- Source material / true-story basis
- Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World by Glenn Stout (2009)
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with some praising its rousing and compelling nature while others criticized its treatment of feminism and lack of dramatic tension.
- Production trivia
- Lily James was originally cast as Gertrude Ederle.; Daisy Ridley received swimming training from Olympic swimmer turned coach Siobhan-Marie O'Connor.; The film was originally scheduled to be released direct-to-streaming on Disney+.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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