Making a splash
‘‘ Censors on public beaches measure the amount of flesh visible
YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA
Cert PG ★★★★
In cinemas now
They do make ’em like they used to and that’s a blessing when it comes to Norwegian director Joachim Ronning’s heartstring-tugging biopic of American competitive swimmer Trudy Ederle, who became the first woman to conquer the English Channel in August 1926.
Comfortingly old-fashioned in its dramatic structure, Young Woman And The Sea sermonises self-belief in an era when women were expected to cover up and certainly didn’t learn to swim in bathing suits that might flout decency laws.
Censors on public beaches, wielding measuring tapes to precisely assess the amount of uncovered flesh, vigorously enforced the draconian rules of the day.
Screenwriter Jeff Nathanson confidently adapts Glenn Stout’s non-fiction book, condensing timelines and heightening suspense with artistic flourishes to abide by the tropes of an underdog story.
A rousing orchestral score courtesy of composer Amelia Warner teases generous trickles from tear ducts as a splashy ensemble cast, led by Daisy Ridley, dives into a largely forgotten chapter of sporting history marked by a ticker-tape parade through the streets of New York City that stands firm in record books almost 100 years later.
The supporting cast scene-steals by stealth, notably Jeanette Hain’s strong-willed mother who paddles against patriarchal tides, and Stephen Graham’s Rotherham-born swimmer, who prefers to perform physical exertions in his birthday swimsuit.
Young Woman And The Sea is a cockle-warming delight that addresses gender inequality through the eyes of a close-knit clan, who support each other against seemingly overwhelming odds.
“They don’t want us to be heroes,” Trudy’s older sister Margaret warns during a rain-soaked heart-to-heart.
Ridley and co-stars are convincing in the water, including the climactic Channel crossing filmed over nine days in the Black Sea. “Seems like a nice day for a swim,” quips Trudy before she takes the plunge.
Indeed, it does.