Young Woman and the Sea

Young Woman and the Sea is a 2024 American biographical sports film directed by Joachim Rønning and written by Jeff Nathanson, based on the 2009 book by Glenn Stout. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, the film stars Daisy Ridley as Gertrude Ederle, an American competitive swimmer who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. It also stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston, and Glenn Fleshler in supporting roles.
Development on the film began in 2015 after producer Jerry Bruckheimer acquired the film rights to the book, and established a distribution deal with Paramount Pictures, with Nathanson attached to write it and Lily James cast as Ederle. Paramount eventually put the project in turnaround. In 2020, Walt Disney Pictures acquired the project with Ridley set to portray Ederle and Rønning to direct it. Principal photography took place between May and June 2022.
Originally set for release on the streaming service Disney+, Disney opted to release the film theatrically after positive test screenings. Young Woman and the Sea premiered at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles on May 16, 2024, and received a limited theatrical release on May 31. The film received positive reviews from critics.
== Plot ==
In New York City, 1914, a young Trudy Ederle, who is stricken with measles, bears witness to disaster when a burning ferry capsizes, leaving hundreds dead. Her mother, Gertrude, who is horrified by the incident, reveals to her that most of the dead were women, who were killed owing to their inability to swim. Convinced that her condition is mortal, Gertrude resolves to have Trudy's siblings, Meg and Henry Jr., learn swimming to ensure their survival; surprisingly, Trudy recovers.
Although barred from water due to her affliction, Trudy becomes fascinated with swimming, and manages to persuade her stern father, Henry, to let her pursue the sport, which she adapts to by her twenties. Subsequently, Gertrude has them join the Women's Swimming Association, under the tutelage of the headstrong Charlotte Epstein. Trudy is initially passed over for Meg, whom Epstein favors, nevertheless, she agrees to train Trudy, who displays quick progress. Over time, Trudy makes expeditious advances, and earns a string of world records; however, Meg stumbles.
In 1924, the family is approached by the American Olympic Union (AOU) about participating in the 1924 Paris Olympics; however, only Trudy is offered a spot. Subsequently, the U.S. women team is introduced to Jabez Wolffe, a swimmer who had unsuccessfully attempted to cross the English Channel, as their guide. However, the sexist Wolffe prevents them from properly training, and as a consequence, Trudy only wins bronze in the 400m freestyle. She returns to New York in disappointment, which only worsens upon discovering that Meg had hastily been engaged in her absence.
After an amusing encounter with Bill Burgess - the second swimmer to have successfully crossed the Channel, a re-motivated Trudy decides to attempt the feat herself. Enlisting Epstein's help, she approaches James Sullivan of the AOU to sponsor the attempt. Sullivan, an opponent of female athletics, is incredulous of the idea, but nevertheless offers to conditionally sponsor it, provided that Trudy swims from New York to New Jersey within a three-hour deadline. Trudy easily beats it and earns the sponsorship, but is forced to pair with Wolffe as her guide.
In France, Trudy trains at the Cap Gris-Nez, where she befriends Benji, another swimmer attempting to cross the 21 mile-long Channel; there, she clashes repeatedly with Wolffe, who attempts to control her training. After a near-disastrous attempt by Benji, Trudy embarks on her maiden attempt on 10 July, 1926. With Wolffe directing her, Trudy initially does well, however, the former, having grown jealous of the latter's progress, ostensibly spikes her tea, which disorients her, bringing the attempt to an end. Whilst recovering, Trudy is visited by Henry and Meg, who have come to take her home; however, they are stopped by Burgess, who offers to train her, having deduced Wolffe's duplicity.
Determined, Trudy secretly escapes from her return trip home, and begins preparations for another attempt. In private, she has Burgess promise not to save her should she fail again. Meanwhile, Sullivan discovers Trudy's deception; realizing she will attempt again, he notifies the press. On 6 August, 1926, Trudy begins the second attempt, this time with Burgess, Henry and Meg as her guiding team. With the press in tow, the attempt's developments are monitored worldwide. Despite enduring jellyfish stings, Trudy persists evenly, before finally facing the final challenge: to cross the Goodwin Sands in order to reach England; with darkness approaching, she decides to swim alone.
By nighttime, the team arrives at Dover; elsewhere, Trudy has lost her direction. However, the townspeople set up bonfires as a guiding beacon, which she uses to safely swim ashore. News of her success spreads, which elates Gertrude and Epstein, but angers Wolffe. Upon her return to New York, Trudy is given a ticker-tape parade through the city, which she shares with her family and Epstein, crediting them for her success.
The film's monologue informs that Trudy set the world record for crossing the Channel at 14 hours and 31 minutes, before eventually losing her hearing; nevertheless, she taught swimming to deaf children and had peacefully died in 2003 at the age of 98.
== Cast ==
== Release ==
Young Woman and the Sea was originally scheduled to be released as a Disney+ original film. In January 2024, following positive test screenings and the box office performance of the Amazon MGM Studios sports drama The Boys in the Boat (2023), a theatrical release was considered as a possible way to tie-in with the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in France, with a potential release date of May 31, 2024. The following month, it was officially moved to theatrical for a limited release. The film's world premiere took place on May 16, 2024 in Los Angeles. It was later released on Disney+ on July 19, 2024.
Will release on Blu-ray & DVD distributed by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment trough Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in Q4 2024, Disney DVD logo first time replaced into DVD Video Logo and Disney Blu-ray logo replaced into Blu-ray Disc logo since 2008 in cover.
===Marketing===
First look images from the film were released exclusively by People on March 6, 2024. The trailer debuted at CinemaCon on April 11, 2024, and was released to the public online shortly after.
== Reception ==
===Box office===
Young Woman and the Sea grossed $500,000 domestically and $81,725 in international territories for a worldwide box office total of $581,725.
===Critical response===
 
Glenn Kenny of The New York Times gave a positive review of the film, writing that "this is one of those movies that proves, when they’ve got a mind to, they can still make them like they used to." Kate Erbland of IndieWire wrote that "the real Ederle accomplished so much, it’s hard to imagine cramming it all into one tidy feature. The one we’ve got? It’s good enough, rousing enough, compelling enough."
Charles Bramesco of The Guardian criticized the movie's "anodyne, Disneyfied" take on feminism, writing that "you’d be hard-pressed to find a living person who believes women should not be allowed to go swimming". Derek Smith of Slant Magazine said that the film creates "virtually no dramatic tension" because it "leaves no room for doubt about what Trudy Ederle will accomplish".
== External links ==
*
*Young Woman and the Sea at History vs. Hollywood
== References ==
Category:Disney films
Category:Films starring Daisy Ridley
Category:Biographical drama films
Category:Jerry Bruckheimer films
Category:Based on book
Category:2024 biographical drama films
Category:2020s American films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:2020s sports drama films
Category:American biographical drama films
Category:American sports drama films
Category:Biographical films about sportspeople
Category:Cultural depictions of American people
Category:Cultural depictions of swimmers
Category:English-language biographical drama films
Category:English-language sports drama films
Category:Films about the 1924 Summer Olympics
Category:Films about Olympic swimming and diving
Category:Films about women's sports
Category:Films directed by Joachim Rønning
Category:Films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer
Category:Films scored by Amelia Warner
Category:Films set in 1924
Category:Films set in 1926
Category:Films set in New York City
Category:Films set in Paris
Category:Films shot in Bulgaria
Category:Films with screenplays by Jeff Nathanson
Category:Walt Disney Pictures films
Category:Jerry Bruckheimer Films films
Category:Seafaring films
Category:Swimming films