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It is unfortunate for this waterlogged British independent film to focus on a real-life story about a female athlete’s extreme swimming journey. Its release coincides with ongoing conversations about Annette Bening’s portrayal of a determined underdog swimmer in Hollywood’s “Nyad.” This movie lacks the strength and determination displayed by Nyad, and instead appears to have stumbled and been hindered by setbacks.
Kirsten Callaghan portrays Mercedes Gleitze, a young swimmer from Brighton with German roots in the 1920s. Her goal is to become the first British woman to swim across the Channel. However, she faces discrimination and prejudice from society due to her social status, gender, and nationality. Her top rival for the title is Edith Gade (played by Victoria Summer), a conceited swimmer known for cheating. Edith’s actions tarnish Mercedes’ genuine attempts and ultimately lead her to do a “vindication swim” when bad weather prevents her from attempting the Channel crossing.
Edith’s hostile competition with Mercedes regarding drinks is the most realistic aspect of the movie. Our protagonist is predictably accompanied by her sour coach, Harold Best (played by John Locke), supposedly a fictional character inspired by Bill Burgess, the ex-Channel swimmer who trained American swimmer Gertrude Ederle.
This could have resulted in a captivating and surprisingly intricate movie. However, it ultimately fails. This is partially due to the shallow portrayal of the time period and the use of clichés in the genre (similar to how George Clooney’s The Boys in the Boat was unsuccessful). In addition, the uncertain delivery of lines and sluggish direction also contribute to the downfall of the film. It feels as though the movie is weighed down by heavy water wings.
Source: theguardian.com
