Disney’s “Young Woman And The Sea” Review
Just in time for the summer Olympics, Disney has released its latest brand-new feel-good sports movie called, “Young Woman And The Sea”, which is based on the book of the same name and tells the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel successfully.
This film follows Trudy, who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905 and survived measles as a child. Through the steadfast support of her mother, older sister, and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement—a 21-mile trek from France to England.
The movie stars Daisy Ridley, who shines in the role of Trudy, though it does feel a little wooden to begin with, but in many ways, that fits more with the era of the early 1900s and makes it more believable. I also really enjoyed seeing Stephen Graham and Christopher Eccleston in this movie, as they stole their scenes, while also highlighting that you shouldn’t always judge someone on their looks.
One of the key aspects of this film is about the treatment of women in the early 1990s, where Trudy, her mother and every other woman had to fight so much harder to even be treated as not an equal to men. The battle they faced to swim at all, the stigma of being unable to swim because she’s a woman and being denied some of the simplest of things needed to be the best.
There are some despicable and underhanded things done to her, out of jealousy, pigheadedness and basic male chauvinistic actions, that just feel so wrong in today’s world, but something woman had to deal with over one hundred years ago, though sadly, is still a thing, especially in the world of sports. There are some heartbreaking moments in this film, where you can see the disappointment and despair, but it only fueled her desire to prove she was just as capable as men.
Disney has a history of making feel-good sports movies, which might not set the world alight at the box office but fit the company’s ethos. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a number of these movies, such as “Rise” and “Togo,” released straight onto Disney+, but with “Young Woman And The Sea,” following some positive early feedback from test audiences, Disney decided to put the movie out in cinemas for a limited engagement. And I can see why! Because it’s really well done, and I could possibly pick up some nominations when the award season rolls around.
“Young Woman And The Sea” feels like a movie made in another time. While it’s obviously set around a century ago, the overall feel of the movie feels more traditional and unlike most films today, which I really liked. It’s predictable, and we know she makes the iconic swim, because they wouldn’t be making the movie if she didn’t! But the tale along the way was unknown to me, and it’s a good eye-opener that things might be better now, but could still be better.
One of the things I really liked about this movie is how it ends with some real-life footage from the time, which really highlights what she had to go through, and I’m not sure some viewers will really be able to grasp this until that footage is shown.
Overall: This is a fantastic and inspiring feel-good movie. It’s got a great story, though there are a few elements that I feel have been given the Hollywood treatment to make it more entertaining. Hopefully, it will capture the imagination of some viewers in the future. If you’re after a more traditional movie, this should scratch that itch. “Young Woman And The Sea” is a lovely, family-friendly underdo movie that has that classic Disney vibe that we just don’t see enough of anymore. This is an easy recommendation for Disney+ subscribers!
Rating – 4 Out Of 5
“Young Woman And The Sea” splashes onto Disney+ on Friday, 19th July 2024
Roger Palmer
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