Young Woman and The Sea: Grounded and Heartfelt Biopic
Seeing Disney's *Young Woman And The Sea*, I couldn't help but immediately think of last year's *Nyad* as both of them are based on actual swimmers. Though the former is a movie I didn't love since it lacked a personal slant, *Young Woman and the Sea*, directed by Joachim Rønning from a Jeff Nathanson screenplay, deftly imbues heart and connection into its tale. It's what immediately distinguishes it from a mere by-the-numbers true story adaption derived from Glenn Stout's book *Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World*.
Daisy Ridley plays the gifted swimmer born in New York City in 1905 from immigrant background. She overcome hardship and the hostility of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic Swimming team and complete the amazing feat — a 21-mile trip from France to England – thanks to the unflinching support of her older sister and supporting trainers.
Young Woman and the Sea: a grounded narrative
Trudy Ederle (Daisy Ridley) survived the measles as a child, hence nothing really bothers her as an adult. After learning about several women who burned to death on a boat because they couldn't swim to safety, Trudy's mother (Jeannette Hain) supports her and older sister Margaret (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) to take swimming lessons despite her father's (Kim Bodnia) attempts to keep to tradition and preserve a sexist status quo. Though it avoids overt sensationalism for a grounded story that calls to the heart, *Young Woman And The Sea* boasts everything we have come to expect from a true story film.
Trudy's bond with her sister Margaret and the narrative's juxtaposition of their situations in ways that improve Trudy's swimming attempts eventually helps the movie stay afloat. Though it also knows when to inject humor, Young Woman and the Sea keeps sight of its central narrative, which sees Trudy trying to swim across the English Channel in 1926. After all, life isn't always serious and this movie honors that. Hain is particularly skilled at communicating with her eyes; her moments are joyful even as she worries about the safety of her daughter. Trudy's bond with her sister Margaret and the way the narrative contrasts their situation in ways that improve Trudy's swimming efforts finally helps the movie stay afloat.
Young Woman And The Sea: Fantastic Cast
Rønning's film is honest; it's not trying to make us feel anything as the narrative runs through. Still, the performers' performances and the screenplay help us to feel something. In her post-Star Wars existence, Ridley keeps on interesting and demanding assignments. Though Young Woman and the Sea lacks much to work with, she captures the physicality of the part. During the slower times, Ridley's Trudy sees her surroundings as though she were consuming it so she may subsequently fuel her toughest swimming effort. The actress is adaptable and brings the feeling as required.
Though it keeps things basic, the movie glows like a lighthouse in the dark. Particularly good are Bodnia and Hain; the latter shows so much with her facial expressions. As Mr. Wolffe, a guy who failed to cross the English Channel and whose hostility while working with Trudy is really obvious, Christopher Eccleston is gently unsettling. Every actor in the main cast—including the charming Alexander Karim as Trudy's friend and fellow swimmer—offers a remarkable performance. They improve the picture, as does Ridley. Amelia Warner's soundtrack is equally excellent, highlighting every loss and success Trudy experiences.
Sisterhood of Young Woman and the Sea
Margaret feels as though she cannot leave her circumstances and the marriage her father plans, while Trudy sees a different future for herself. She was brave enough to do this, maybe since her sister expected nothing from her. The sisters' bond is interesting and touching even if they wind up leading separate paths. You truly understand what they mean to each other, and that helps *Young Woman and the Sea* to keep its heart on its sleeve focused. One of the film's strongest points is the sisters' nearliness.
The movie keeps things straightforward, but it glows like a lighthouse in the night nevertheless. Although there are some unclear elements of the swimming itself, the filmmakers know that these are not necessarily the most interesting sections of the narrative. Though it follows Trudy's life's events in chronological sequence, *Young Woman and the Sea* avoids presenting her narrative as an expository exercise. She is shown as a fully developed person, and although there are times when her triumph's impact is heightened so that we can more strongly relate to her, it does not detract from the main narrative.
