Elliott Hasler’s film takes the story of Mercedes Glietze (1900-1981), the first British woman to swim the English Channel.
Although sometimes appearing to belittle the real pressures facing a young, unmarried woman in the 1920s, especially one from a non-professional class with a German name, this film does shine in its semi-documentary feel.
Notably, another woman’s deceit in claiming a successful swim (given an assumed name for Vindication Swim) leads to Glietze having to prove herself over and over against common opposition.
The decision to shoot only the swimming scenes in colour gives the indication of how much the water means to Glietze. It also allows the use of newsreel material to add additional comment.
Giletze acquires a crusty, male trainer with a tragic past and deals with predators, snobs, and gatekeepers along the way. All things we have seen before in sports biopics.
Vindication Swim is a decent watch, if not particularly memorable, and perhaps is a case of more style than substance at times.
The performances are fine for what they have to work with, but for me, this is more interesting for its visuals than its screenplay.
Kirsten Callaghan – film debut – gives the character of Gleitze a steely resolve, but it might have been more interesting to give her a bit more fire in her reactions.
In an exchange with Edith Gade (Victoria Summer), there is a hint of what might have been – sharp writing and a sense of drama.
Hasler has shown definite promise with his first two films (Charlie’s Letters opened to some acclaim) and I suspect if this is the result of a tiny budget and a passion project, he is a creative force to watch.
**.5
Vindication Swim has just opened on general cinema release. My thanks to Relsah Films for an advance copy.