Young Woman and the Sea
Trudy Ederle (Olive Abercrombie, Netflix's 'The Haunting of Hill House') astonished her doctor and her family when she survived measles at the onset of the twentieth century, but it was her accomplishments in the water that would astonish the whole world. After overcoming obstacles facing women at the time, including the objections of her own father Henry (Kim Bodnia, TV's 'Killing Eve'), a German butcher in Manhattan, Trudy (Daisy Ridley) would become the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926, substantially beating the time of the five men who did it before her in “Young Woman and the Sea.”
Laura's Review: B+
This is one of Disney’s best live action films, certainly one of their best sports movies, in quite some time. Delivered with good old fashioned craft by director Joachim Rønning ("Kon-Tiki," "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil") from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson (2019's "The Lion King") adapting Glenn Stout's book, “Young Woman” is also evidence of Daisy Ridley’s range as an actress, 2024 having already seen her in quite a different light from “Star Wars” in “Sometimes I Think About Dying.”
Trudy’s rebellious nature is evinced by her continual singing of ‘Ain’t We Got Fun’ while strumming on a ukulele as a child, driving those who won’t allow her swimming as an outlet to distraction. But she gains the support of her mother Gertrude (the wonderful German actress Jeanette Hain, “The Reader,” “Never Look Away”) when hundreds of women die aboard a ferry fire because of the simple fact that they didn’t know how to swim. She and her sister Meg (Tilda Cobham-Hervey, “Hotel Mumbai”) begin to learn by swimming around a Coney Island pier, a feat that guarantees a free Nathan’s hot dog. But when Gertrude brings the two to Charlotte 'Eppy' Epstein (Sian Clifford), who teaches women the American crawl in a NYC pool in exchange for keeping the boiler running, Eppy accepts Meg, stating Trudy swims ‘like a horse with three broken legs.’ Trudy ends up loading the boiler, until Eppy gives her another shot after learning she survived measles.
Trudy would continue to face challenges, like her Olympics coach Jabez Wolffe’s (Christopher Eccleston, "Shallow Grave") attempts to keep her down, jealous of her ability after his own 21 failed Channel attempts (he’d be forced upon her for her first Channel swim). Olympics Chairman James Sullivan (Glenn Fleshler, "Joker," TV's 'Billions') resisted allowing women competition slots until Trudy won a bet by swimming to New Jersey. And while Henry eventually comes around, becoming one of his daughter’s biggest champions, at home he continued to try to arrange marriages, the old-fashioned way, Meg’s falling in line offering a contrast between the sisters (although not before the duo play a delicious prank on Horst (Sebastian Griegel), the smiling German picked for Trudy).
There are many parallels to last year’s “NYAD,” including gaining the right crew to chart the right course (that would be the highly entertaining Stephen Graham of “The Irishman” as Bill Burgess, the second man to swim the Channel), stinging jellyfish, directional confusion in the water, rules about touching the swimmer, feeding in the open water and the press, but the almost ninety year difference between the two events and shift from southern to northern waters give each a substantially different feel. Production Designer Nora Takacs Ekberg recreates a 1920’s NYC on soundstages in Bulgaria with Amelia Warner’s ("Mr. Malcolm's List") orchestral score providing a throwback touch. Cinematographer Oscar Faura ("The Orphanage," "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom") achieves the dimly lit interiors of the era along with majestic open water footage, Daisy Ridley swimming in actual open seas(!).
Give the casting director here credit for casting actresses who actually resemble each other as a family, Cobham-Hervey as Trudy’s older sister Margaret a great match for Ridley as is Hain as their mother, Hain also resembling Trudy’s younger incarnation. While the women take center stage, Bodnia traverses the biggest arc, with Eccleston suggesting villainous intent. Graham charms as the swimmer who shocks emerging nude from the sea, his empathy, wisdom and support (for a woman!) softening the character. Also good is a smaller role is Alexander Karim, another Channel swimmer whose condescension for Trudy turns to admiration and friendship.
“Young Woman and the Sea” packs a lot into a zippy 129 minute running time. Stick around for some amazing factual title cards over the film’s closing credits.
Robin's Review: B+
Gertrude “Trudy” Erderle (Daisy Ridley), on 6 August 1926, did something that all the world said was impossible – she was the first woman to swim across the English Channel, something accomplished by just a handful of men before her. Director Joachim Ronning brings her remarkable story to life nearly a century later in “Young Woman and the Sea.”
I like the choice of title for a film that has a bit of Hemingwayesque adventure steeped in its tale of dedication and completion. Like the Old Man in Hemingway’s saga, Trudy is a thoroughly focused on her mission. For her, it is not a prize fish she is going for, it is to break the social barriers and perform in a supposedly men-only world.
Also, as I watched Daisy Ridley’s Trudy do the impossible, I could not shake the feeling I had reminding me of “Chariots of Fire (1981).” Both pics take place in the first quarter of the 20th century and both have a similar period look and feel - though “Chariots” is done on a much grander scale – and each film tells about great athletic accomplishments. I am glad we are starting to see more femme-oriented stories about women’s great accomplishments.
Trudy, to her father’s (Kim Bodnia) chagrin and frustration, declares, at an early age, that she is going to become a swimmer. And, the strong-willed youngster will stop at nothing to get her way – even resorting to psychological warfare (the old song “Ain’t We Got Fun” plays prominent). This kid’s determination grows as Trudy grows and she becomes the swimmer she dreamed of.
Trudy, though, does not just face the challenge of competition against her peers and equals, she also must contend with her greatest obstacle – men and their misogyny toward the fairer sex. At the time of Trudy’s hard-fought and won life’s victories, woman had only recently received the right to vote. That the young swimmer, through her steadfast will and determination, not only competed in a “man’s world,” she also won!
Daisy Ridley envelops her character and not once did I not believe I was watching Trudy, alive and kickin’. The physical aspect of her decision is shown in all its daunting splendor – as she faces her first attempt, we see the Channel for what it is – the dangerous, wild, unpredictable body of water bordering the North Sea. It takes your breath away when Trudy (and we) faces the monster.
Supporting cast is convincing in their roles, with attention paid to the Erderle family, especially the woman - Jeanette Hain, as the family matriarch and strong-willed mom, and Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Trudy’s ever-supportive sister, Margaret, all look like family. Kim Bodnia, as the put-upon dad, is charming as he dotes on and gives in to his girls.
The best part of “Young Woman and the Sea” is the attempted channel crossings and Ridley plays the part well, both her acting and the physicality of the role. As a life-long swimmer, I have done open water swimming and can cross a lake a mile wide and back (well, maybe not lately). I have also been in the Caribbean after a hurricane but what Trudy Erderle faced is beyond my comprehension – but not beyond my imagination.
Walt Disney released "Young Woman and the Sea" in theaters on 5/31/24. It begins streaming on Disney+ on 7/19/24.
