Young Woman and the Sea Parent Guide

If Trudy Ederle (Daisy Ridley) has a defining trait, it’s stubbornness. She survived a brutal case of measles and has overturned the low expectations of female swimmers. Now, Trudy wants to swim across the English Channel, considered the most difficult challenge in sport. Only five men have ever succeeded, and no one thinks a woman can survive the treacherous waters. But Trudy is determined to “do or die” – and she means that literally…

Gertrude (Trudy) Ederle’s achievements are part of the historical record, so it’s difficult to maintain suspense in the outcome of her quest but this film does a masterful job of ratcheting up the tension nonetheless. And it does so in two ways: first, by interrogating the dynamics of the Ederle family, and second, by examining the cultural misogyny that acts as an anchor for female swimmers.

The movie runs long but that’s because the script works hard to establish a convincing backstory for Trudy. Her parents are German immigrants, torn between their own cultural traditions and the New World dreams of Trudy and her older sister, Margaret (Tilda Cobham-Hervey). Henry Ederle (Kim Bodnia) struggles to cope with his daughters’ desires to swim (widely viewed as unfeminine) but the ghosts of his wife’s (Jeanette Hain) past give her the strength to help the girls fight for their futures.

The cultural issues are even more potent, and this film is a damning indictment of misogyny, with Trudy and her fellow swimmers constantly battling negative gender stereotypes and the outright enmity of the sports establishment. I’m not sure how historically accurate this is, but in this film, the US swimming establishment explicitly seeks an end to women’s swimming. In addition, Trudy’s calories are restricted so she won’t gain weight and will look good in the news photographs. Other equally enraging episodes recur throughout the film and will drive 21^st century viewers insane.

Gender inequality is a powerful angle from which to tell this story, but I think Director Joachim Rønning has overdone it. I don’t know if coach Jabez Wolffe (Christopher Eccleston) really was the big baddie he’s made out to be or if Disney really, really wanted a nasty villain for the tale. Frankly, I think Trudy’s story stands on its own without embroidering the details, but apparently more drama was desired by the studio. This would also explain the mounting pile of historical inaccuracies in the film. If you watch this film (and I recommend it despite its flaws), don’t take it as history: it’s very clearly a story inspired by fact but extensively altered for cinema. (Links to the true story are attached below and they are worth reading.)

Historical quibbles aside, Young Woman and the Sea is a great choice for family viewing. Trudy is a fine role model, providing an inspiring example of courage, sibling loyalty, hard work, and fierce determination. Parents of strong-willed children will also find this story hopeful as they watch willful young Trudy mature into a self-directed woman whose power and resilience allow her to do the impossible. It often feels impossible to find a movie that’s suitable for families, but this film thankfully fits the bill.