Young Woman and the Sea is a neatly told, inspiring story about a woman who went against the tide to cement her legacy as one of the most fearless athletes to exist. The movie is polished and nicely detailed, anchored by winning performances and a triumphantly dramatic script—basically everything you’d expect from a Disney movie. And like many Disney movies, Young Woman and the Sea can sometimes be too on-the-nose about its advocacies, but it's hard to deny its charm. The movie is a treat to watch, and an especially nice segue into the upcoming Olympics.
Synopsis
This is the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. Through the steadfast support of her 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 21-mile trek from France to England.
Storyline
Based on the true story of Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle (played here by Daisy Ridley), the film follows Trudy as she overcomes physical obstacles and societal expectations to be a champion swimmer.
TLDR
Make sure to include this in your list of pre-game movies to watch before the Olympics.
What stands out
That one scene with the jellyfish, ‘nuff said.