As the world rallies as cheerleaders for the biggest sporting event, this film, which is available for streaming on Disney+Hotstar, promises to inspire and bring to screens the true spirit of sportsmanship. It offers a peek into the pages of sports history, documenting an epic moment in history. Director Rønning, known for his work on Johnny Depp‘s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ and Angelina Jolie‘s ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’, in an interview with ETimes, expressed his passion for bringing Ederle’s true and inspiring story to the big screen. “This film was made to radiate some sort of an energy, and in a way channel Ederle,” he explained.
Bringing this film to screens was nothing short of a challenge and an altogether exhausting experience for the team. As Rønning revealed, “We were out there on the ocean for weeks and weeks, with Daisy Ridley swimming in freezing waters until their lips were blue, somehow channeling through Trudy Ederle. I hope the audience can feel that we really tried to make it as real as possible, shooting in the elements and on the ocean.”When asked about the significance of adapting Ederle’s story for a big-screen experience, especially in an era dominated by R-rated action and gore, the director seemed rather optimistic. “I think there’s room for every type of film and the only thing I can do is to make a good movie. I obviously think we should have a little bit of all types of movies. Why I love the story of Trudy Ederle, is because first of all, it is a true story. It’s about a seismic event in history that very few people actually know about.”
While admitting that this historic event played out 100 years ago, he adds, “It is important to know your history, and know where we come from. ‘Young Woman and the Sea’ has everything that I look for in a story when I’m making a movie. It has a big heart, it is funny, scary and inspirational. I just feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to bring this story to the big screen and tell it to a modern audience.”
Over the past year, social media has created an uproar over the inaccurate portrayals of historical events. Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali faced trolling and criticism over his ‘glamorous’ depiction of the events that unfolded in Lahore during the Patrician in his series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. Addressing the delicate balance between historical accuracy and creative liberty, Rønning emphasized the importance of ‘truthfulness’ and added, “With Trudy’s story, we didn’t have to change much at all because it was such a riveting tale anyway. Obviously, I have to squeeze it into two hours and tell her life story along with her Channel swim, so some editing is necessary. But honestly, this movie required the least amount of finesse because it was so dramatic as it is.”
Trudy Ederle, an American competitive swimmer and Olympic champion, made history on August 6, 1926, when she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Her feat was not only a testament to her endurance and skill but also a significant milestone for women in the sport. Ederle’s Olympic win and subsequent Channel swim shattered societal barriers and paved the way for future generations of female athletes in competitive swimming.
