Driven by determination and supported by a dedicated network, Trudy Ederle challenged societal expectations and shattered barriers in the male-dominated world of competitive swimming. Her remarkable journey culminated in a record-breaking 21-mile swim across the English Channel, an unprecedented achievement that inspired generations.
Does Young Woman and the Sea have end credit scenes?
No!
Young Woman and the Sea does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Explore the complete cast of Young Woman and the Sea, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
Lilly Aspell
Young Meg Ederle
Tessa Bonham Jones
Daisy Ridley
Trudy Ederle
Stephen Graham
Bill Burgess
Kim Bodnia
Henry Ederle
Ethan Rouse
Henry Jr. (Teen)
Bashar Rahal
Tilda Cobham-Hervey
Meg Ederle
Velizar Binev
Olive Abercrombie
Young Trudy Ederle
Jeanette Hain
Gertrude Ederle
Doc Butler
Uncle Ederle
Yordan Angelov
Karl Durshley
Sava Dragunchev
Robert Eades
Johnny Weissmuller
Saskia Marguerite
Michael Amiar
Mitko Angelov
Liliya Atanasova
Laila Barwick
Discover where to watch Young Woman and the Sea online, including streaming platforms, rental options, and official sources. Compare reviews, ratings, and in-depth movie information across sites like IMDb, TMDb, Wikipedia or Rotten Tomatoes.
See how Young Woman and the Sea is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Young Woman and the Sea stands among top-rated movies in its genre.
Young Woman and the Sea balances a stirring underdog narrative with familiar biopic conventions. Critics and audiences commend its confident direction and evocative visual compositions, anchored by a committed lead performance and resonant emotional beats. The plot delivers consistent engagement through measured pacing, though it occasionally succumbs to predictable turns and sanitized treatment of history. The musical score and soundscapes reinforce the adventurous tone and the combination of heartfelt moments keeps viewers invested. Overall, its strengths in craft and feeling outweigh its conventional contours.
The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for Young Woman and the Sea
Art & Craft
In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits assured direction and crisp visual compositions that convey the intensity of open-water swimming. Cinematography frequently immerses the viewer in the channel’s vastness while production design evokes the 1920s setting with understated detail. Editing maintains clarity during race sequences. Overall, the technical cohesion reinforces the story’s spirited momentum.
Character & Emotion
When it comes to character and emotion, the central performance delivers sincere emotional depth that anchors the narrative. The protagonist’s determination resonates through nuanced expressions and clear motivations. Supporting roles add earnest stakes, though some relationships feel broadly sketched. Emotional moments are effectively staged, eliciting genuine reactions. Overall, the character dynamics provide a solid foundation despite occasional simplicity.
Story & Flow
In terms of story and flow, the film sustains steady engagement through a clear underdog arc and deliberate pacing. The narrative structure balances exposition with climactic swims, although predictable beats and streamlined conflicts undercut some dramatic weight. Plot development is coherent but seldom ventures into novel territory. Overall, the story delivers reliable momentum and emotional investment despite leaning on familiar biopic formulas.
Sensory Experience
When it comes to sensory experience, the score and sound design consistently heighten emotional impact and immerse the audience in each stroke. Amelia Warner’s musical themes underscore pivotal moments with measured swelling, while ambient water effects and crisp sound mixing enhance realism. The visual style complements these elements with a restrained color palette and dynamic framing. Overall, the sensory elements are cohesive and engaging.
Rewatch Factor
In terms of rewatch value, the film’s inspiring underdog storyline and polished execution encourage repeat viewings. Its emotional peaks and clear race sequences remain engaging even after familiarity sets in. However, the predictable structure and sanitized portrayal of history may lessen some incentive for subsequent viewings. Overall, the film retains moderate replay appeal through its crafted tension and emotive highs.
62
Metascore
6.8
User Score
88%
TOMATOMETER
96%
User Score
7.5 /10
IMDb Rating
79
%
User Score
3.7
From 117 fan ratings
4.67/5
From 6 fan ratings
Challenge your knowledge of Young Woman and the Sea with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.
In which year does the movie 'Young Woman and the Sea' begin?
Read the complete plot summary of Young Woman and the Sea, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
In New York City, 1914, a young Trudy Ederle, who is afflicted with measles, witnesses a burning ferry capsize, with that disaster leaving hundreds of the passengers dead. Her mother, Gertrude, is horrified by the incident, and after learning that most of the dead were women due to their inability to swim, she resolves to have Trudy’s siblings, Meg and Henry Jr., learn swimming for their survival, with Trudy barred from water due to her illness. Surprisingly, Trudy recovers from measles. She becomes fascinated with swimming, and having persuaded her stern father, Henry, to allow her, she begins to pursue the sport when she’s 12. Subsequently, Gertrude has them join the Women’s Swimming Association, under the tutelage of the headstrong Charlotte Epstein. Trudy is initially passed over for Meg, whom Epstein favors, nevertheless, she agrees also to train Trudy, who makes quick progress. Over time, Trudy’s performance keeps improving and she wins a string of world records; however, Meg’s advance is far more modest.
In 1924, the Ederles are approached by the American Olympic Union (AOU) about participating in the 1924 Paris Olympics; however, only Trudy is offered a spot. Subsequently, the U.S. women team is introduced to Jabez Wolffe, a swimmer who unsuccessfully attempted to cross the English Channel, as their coach. However, the sexist Wolffe prevents them from properly training, and as a consequence, Trudy only wins bronze medals in the 100 metre freestyle and 400 metre freestyle. She returns to New York in disappointment, which worsens on discovering that in her absence Meg has been become engaged to be married in a deal orchestrated by their father.
After an encounter with Bill Burgess, the second swimmer to have successfully crossed the Channel, a re-motivated Trudy decides to attempt the feat herself. Enlisting Epstein’s help, she approaches James Sullivan of the AOU to sponsor the attempt. Sullivan, an opponent of female athletics, is dismissive of the idea, but offers to sponsor it conditionally, provided that Trudy swims from New York to New Jersey within a three-hour deadline. Trudy easily beats it and earns the sponsorship, but is forced to pair with Wolffe as her coach.
In France, Trudy trains at the Cap Gris-Nez, where she befriends Benji, another swimmer attempting to cross the 21-mile (34 km) Channel; there, she clashes repeatedly with Wolffe, who attempts to control her training. After a near-disastrous attempt by Benji, Trudy embarks on her maiden attempt on 10 July, 1926. With Wolffe directing her, Trudy initially does well, however, the former, having grown jealous of the latter’s progress, ostensibly spikes her tea, which disorients her and brings the attempt to an end. Whilst recovering, Trudy is visited by Henry and Meg, who have come to take her home; however, they are stopped by Burgess, who offers to train her, having deduced Wolffe’s duplicity.
Determined, Trudy secretly escapes from her return trip home, and begins preparations for another attempt, making Burgess promise not to save her, should she fail again. Meanwhile, Sullivan discovers Trudy’s deception; realizing she will attempt again, he notifies the press. On 6 August, 1926, Trudy begins the second attempt, this time with Burgess, Henry and Meg as her guiding team. With the press in tow, the attempt’s developments are monitored worldwide. Despite enduring jellyfish stings, Trudy persists in her attempt, before facing the final challenge: to cross the Goodwin Sands in order to reach England. With her guide boat unable to follow her into the shallow waters, she decides to swim alone rather than accept defeat. By nighttime, her team arrives at Dover; but swimming in open water, Trudy has lost her direction. However, the townspeople set up bonfires on the beaches as a guiding beacon for her. News of her success spreads, and upon her return to New York, Trudy is given a ticker-tape parade through the city, which she shares with her family and Epstein, crediting them for her success.
The intertitles before the film’s closing credits inform that Trudy set the world record for crossing the Channel at 14 hours and 31 minutes, beating the world record held by a man by two hours; she eventually lost her hearing and dedicated her life to teaching deaf children to swim; she died in 2003 at the age of 98.
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