On so many levels a worthy and beautiful film. The true story of Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927, this captured her emotional journey against the obstacles of being an unmarried woman of German heritage in the 1920s. Elliott Hasler has written and directed a story that weaves through the timeline, on land and in the sea, with beautiful atmospheric use of monochrome and colour. The acting performances by John Locke and Victoria Summer are strong and captured often in close up framing, but Kirsten Callaghan delivers magnificently capturing her battles with her inner demons facing the opposition from the establishment and the challenges of actually doing the sea swimming herself. It is a truly memorable film all the more impressive made on such a small budget by such a young director. Expect to see much more from Elliott and Kirsten in the future.
Review of Vindication Swim
Vindication Swim
(2024)
Beautifully filmed, well depicted inspirational true story
12 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers