For the past few years, Walt Disney Pictures has built a bit of a reputation for being risk-averse. With their recent slew of live-action remakes and sequels and a 2023 filled with box office bombs, audiences have been lying in wait for an original, successful Disney movie. Young Woman and the Sea is about as original as they get. Yes, it’s based on the true story of Gertrude Ederle (Daisy Ridley), a 1920s swimmer who dreams of swimming across the English Channel. Yes, it’s based on a 2009 nonfiction book by Glenn Stout. But I went into this movie not knowing anything about the story and never having read the book. And yes, this film is fantastic.
Young Woman and the Sea is an emotional, crowd-pleasing sports movie that Disney does not make often anymore. Do you remember Disney films like Remember the Titans, Miracle, or The Mighty Ducks? What happened to these movies? This is the type of movie that has become an increasingly rare breed, especially from Disney. This film shares the same genre as last year’s Gran Turismo, which I adored. There’s nothing quite like an inspiring sports movie based on a true story about a person who builds themselves up to become an incredible athlete, facing adversity and powering through it.
In many ways, that’s what Young Woman and the Sea is. We start out with our protagonist, nicknamed Trudy (Olive Abercrombie), as a young girl with measles. Right away, this movie feels more mature than your average child-friendly Disney movie. The film starts out with a period of unrest in a house filled with sadness and worry over a sick child. The reason why Trudy is inspired to swim is because she hears a horrifying true story of people trapped on a burning ship who ended up parishing because they could not swim. There’s a real family drama and emotional weight to this story that does not feel glossy or simplified for a younger demographic.
This is a PG movie, and I love how much this movie pushes that rating. With some brief language, alcohol consumption, some thrilling moments, and very realistic depictions of issues surrounding the widespread misogyny of the era, Young Woman and the Sea has a lot to offer. There is no story about a successful woman in history without the story of the men who doubt them. Perhaps there’s no actress better equipped to play a part like this than Daisy Ridley, whose Star Wars character has received both admiration and ridicule, some of which is deeply rooted in sexism. It’s inspiring to see how Trudy faces the endless misogyny with her chin held high.
Although “feminist film” can sometimes fail to resonate with everyone, Young Woman and the Sea works for me entirely. This movie is an objective depiction of a time period when nobody expected women to be athletes. There are scenes that face these struggles head-on, accurately depicting the fragility of men who feel threatened by strong women. The female characters in this movie are approached with a lot of nuance. They’re not caricatures designed to be the “strong woman” archetype, nor do they talk about their strength. Their strength and perseverance is demonstrated through their actions. In a world that actively tries to set women back, they have no choice but to keep raging forward.
Not only is it wonderful to have a movie be unashamedly feminist, but it’s important to know that Young Woman and the Sea is much more than that. At its core, this is a story about a person who starts out with nothing and fights their way to the top with hard work. It’s a universal story of triumph that people of all genders can connect to. This movie shows the lengths that sheer will can take a person. It showcases the bond between Trudy and her sister Meg (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) beautifully.
Another excellent aspect of this movie is how it builds the stakes. Nearly every swimming sequence has something interesting going on with the characters that make it more exciting to watch. We know what happens if they win and lose. Every time there is a victory, there is a setback. These characters have to fight an uphill battle on an increasingly steep mountain. This is where the writing and directing take shape. This film is directed by Joachim Rønning, who previously directed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. It is written by Jeff Nathanson, writer of The Lion King (2019). These two are no strangers to working with Disney (and neither is Ridley, of course), and their work here is splendid.
The big finale is when Trudy attempts to swim from England to France, a feat completed by very few. She faces freezing cold water, dangerous animals, and many other obstacles. The film does a phenomenal job of showing just how challenging this is. Unless you’re familiar with the true story, you genuinely do not know whether she will survive this swim or not (so don’t look it up). As far as the film’s issues go, there’s one character relationship that does a 180-degree turn way too fast. But Rønning’s direction puts us in her POV very well, and it can be very intense at times.
The sexist naysayers may criticize Disney for being “political” with their feminism, but this was the only way to tell a story about a woman in a world that does not believe in them. The only way for movies about female oppression to end is for men to stop oppressing women, but in the 1920s (and now), that’s not very realistic. And a story like the one depicted in Young Woman and the Sea is incredibly inspiring not only for young girls but for people everywhere who have ever wanted to become something more.
SCORE: 9/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Young Woman and the Sea review.
