This Movie’s ‘Beautiful’ Story About Family, Dedication Will Inspire You

Published: October 24, 2024

This Movie’s ‘Beautiful’ Story About Family, Dedication Will Inspire You

By Movieguide® Contributor

STAR WARS actress Daisy Ridley loves her latest project, YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA, a movie about family and dedication.

“The script was so beautiful, and there was so much there,” Ridley said in an interview. “And it really is this wonderful story about this family who loves each other so much, and then what these people are going out into the world and doing, and the things that the world is, the world at large is telling them they can or can’t do so already, the script was beautiful.”

YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA sees Ridley disney.com/young-woman-and-the-sea">star as Trudy Ederle, “the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905.”

“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 staggering achievement — a 21-mile trek from France to England,” a synopsis disney.com/young-woman-and-the-sea">reads.

As Ridley trained for the film, she got a glimpse of what it takes to be the best.

“It really felt like a continuing process, even during filming,” the actress said. “Because as I was physically training, I was understanding a little more the dedication it takes to, I mean, I only did a portion of what she did, but the physical dedication of putting your mind to something, particularly when everyone is telling you not to.”

The most powerful part of the story for her, though? The movie’s focus on sisterhood.

“But also the fact that I always found that the love story between the sisters, for me, was the most important thing, really, the thing I really held on to,” Ridley explained. “And I feel that in many ways, Trudy actually has a lot of freedom, like she is going and doing what she wants to do, even though she has to overcome so much to do it, she actually is doing that. And Meg is the one that has to stay at home and do all of the things that everyone was expecting, all the women were expected to do.”

Movieguide® rated YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA a +1 because of its “Very strong moral worldview…and all sorts of Christian, biblical virtues as courage, forgiveness, loyalty, fortitude, the Hand of God, and the knowledge that each man and woman is created in the image of God.”

YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA is one of the best movies in a long time. It’s extremely well plotted, superbly directed and beautifully acted, with a rich musical score. YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA has a strong morally uplifting worldview with strong Christian, biblical references and values celebrating courage, forgiveness, loyalty, and fortitude. It also has references to prayer, church and the Hand of God. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children because of intense swimming scenes.