Our take
This documentary charts the challenges faced by sailor Tracy Edwards and her 12-woman crew in the wake of their decision to participate in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, the grueling yachting competition that covers 33,000 miles and lasts nine months. Director Alex Holmes recreates their adventure using archival footage shot by the women themselves on their voyage, and interesting interviews with the crew members as well as the men who criticized and ridiculed them at the time. Maiden is an interesting bit of documentary filmmaking that is also inspirational and empowering.
What it won
DGA
1 nom
Sundance
1 nom
Nat. Board of Review
1 win · 1 nom
The story
In a moving portrait of resilience, Alex Holmes chronicles the unprecedented journey of 24-year-old Tracy Edwards and the first all-female sailing crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race.
Elsewhere
"An exhilarating and inspiring watch."
— Josh Slater-Williams
"While Maiden is satisfying on its own, it's tailor-made for a remake that can dive deeper into a story that has so much life left in it."
— Kate Erbland
The details
Gather
Sanjay Rawal
The Other Dream Team
Marius A. Markevicius & Marius Markevicius
Fifi Howls from Happiness
Mitra Farahani
Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story
Adam Carolla & Nate Adams
Mr. Bachmann and His Class
Female director & Maria Speth
On the Record
Amy Ziering & Kirby Dick
Wojnarowicz
Chris McKim
Diego Maradona
Asif Kapadia
Who picked it
Sonia Botsarova is a film and culture writer who explores the intersections between cinema and geography in her work on A Reel Trip and Medium. Her writing focuses on world cinema, with particular interest in the cinemas of Central Asia and underrepresented regions.