Young Woman and the Sea is based on Glenn Stout’s 2009 book and tells the inspiring story of Gertrude Ederle, played by Daisy Ridley, who makes history as the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Directed by Joachim Rønning—who seems to have become Disney’s go-to director after his Oscar-nominated work on Kon-Tiki—this film follows up his more recent, lackluster projects like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
The film does a decent job showcasing the challenges Ederle faced on her journey, and Ridley effectively conveys her character’s growth as a swimmer. That said, she doesn’t bring much charisma to the role; her portrayal lacks the spark that makes a protagonist truly exciting. You can really see her limited range, especially when you compare this performance to her earlier work in Sometimes I Think About Dying. In both films, she plays a woman dealing with isolation and determination, and the similarities are hard to ignore.
What really holds Young Woman and the Sea back is its old-fashioned and conventional approach. The plot unfolds just like you’d expect, complete with predictable subplots and absurd character arcs. We’ve got stereotypical villains, a coach who starts off resistant but then becomes the protagonist’s biggest cheerleader, and the obligatory failed attempt right before the climax. The treatment of Ederle’s parents is especially cringe-worthy.
Then there’s the script’s mishandling of non-English speakers, which leans into the cliché that if a character can’t speak English, they must be stupid. This even leads to a moment where someone yells “nuts” repeatedly, and it just feels insulting. As for the score, while it’s grand and inspiring on its own, it drowns out the action in the film. From the very first race, the music is so loud and triumphant that it loses its impact. A more gradual build-up to those victorious moments would have worked wonders, especially in scenes like when Ederle swims through jellyfish. And there’s a song she sings that quickly turns unintentionally funny because it gets repeated so often throughout the film, making it seem like it’s the only song the characters have heard.
Still, Young Woman and the Sea does have its redeeming qualities. There are charming moments, like when Ederle surprises someone by popping up in a car, and the relationship between her and her sister is genuinely touching. Stephen Graham elevates the film in his role, as he always does. While the film sticks to the typical sports drama formula, the impressive real-life story at its core still delivers an uplifting narrative. It simply doesn’t challenge the viewers quite as much as the Channel challenged its fascinating protagonist.