I’m so happy to see Daisy Ridley continue to get work and grow her career post-Star Wars fame. It happens so often that the iconic franchise can make or break a career. And while it’s not been particularly easy for the actress, she’s been slowly building a solid filmography. Young Woman and the Sea is no different, and offers a fun, feel-good sports story from Disney.
The movie tells the story of Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle (Daisy Ridley) who, in 1926, became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, and eventually setting the world record time for crossing. From her early days as a sickly, measles-stricken girl to her first swim lessons and joining the olympic swim team as one of the first women to represent the United States, the film gives us a view through her life as a pioneer of what women could accomplish in the early 1900’s.
What I appreciate the most in Young Woman and the Sea is how simple and focused it is. The story is about Trudy and her journey, and the film does not stray away from this at all. Being a Disney film, there’s a certain vibe about it that makes it perfect for family watching. There’s nothing overly explicit, and while it doesn’t dive as deep into women’s issues as it could, it delves as much as necessary to tell the story.
Visually, I was impressed with how good the film looks, from the time period it’s set in to the way the swimming scenes were shot. It was truly impressive how careful and visually stunning the swimming scenes were. Had they gotten them wrong, the whole film would have been a failure. But luckily, it’s not.
The film also hinges on Ridley’s performance, and she delivers in spades here. She certainly has proven she has leading lady chops and once again delivers a great performance in Young Woman and the Sea. This is the type of movie you watch to see her in it, and for that it was successful.
However, I felt that the film was just too long for the story. There was too much focus on areas that weren’t important, like their family dynamic as the story went on and not enough on areas of Trudy’s life like the Olympics and her training for her swims.
Final Thoughts
Young Woman and the Sea is a really solid Disney sports film that is great for families. It tells a feel good story with really solid performances all around. The swimming visuals are really great, and while it’s a bit too long, it’s still an enjoyable time for anyone.
