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Chariots of Fire has had a bit of renewed attention this year as the Olympic Games that featured in the film were the last ones to be held in Paris, one hundred years ago. It is interesting that this new movie, released now (in cinemas and now on Disney+) has not capitalised on the same connection as the woman whose story it tells also competed that year, as is depicted in some scenes at around the midpoint of the film. Unlike Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams in the famous 1981 movie though, Trudy Ederle’s greatest accomplishment was not in the Olympics. Her notable achievement is being the first woman to swim the English Channel.

In fact Ederle’s accomplishments at the 1924 Olympics are played down here so as to stand as a disappointment step on her journey to taking her true place in history. She actually did better and in more pool events than are shown here. This is one example in which true events are manipulated for the sake of telling a good story but that’s just film making. In the end this tale of a 21 year old female, defying all expectations to succeed in an athletic field previously reserved for men is moving and inspiring in all the ways it needs to be and I loved it.

As well as being the first woman, Ederle was also only the sixth person to complete this famous endurance swim, unlike now when 1,881 people have done it – including celebrity David Walliams, 11 year old Tom Gregory, quadruple amputee Philippe Croizon, the four people who have done it two or three times back to back and Sarah Thomas who in 2019 became the first person to do it consecutively four times. Still, in 1926 Ederle’s feat genuinely changed everything at a time when women were considered too weak to take part in this and a whole range of sporting activities.

The feminist themes run strong through this film then but not too heavily. She did have to fight sexist conventions as much as the waves and the current and the movie showcases this effectively without being overbearing. While as a whole this comes across as a fairly unshowy telling of events, letting the (embellished) story play out by itself, the handling of the narrative is deceptively skilled. Right from the start of the two hour running time, with everything focused on a humble family in an unremarkable New York apartment, you are captivated and it builds to its inevitable end really well. As well as this being in Joachim Rønning’s direction and Jeff Nathanson’s writing, much of this is down to the acting. Each member of Ederle’s family is portrayed perfectly from Jeanette Hain as the stoical but quietly forceful mother, Kim Bodnia as the pragmatic, old fashioned but loving father and Tilda Cobham-Hervey as the realistic but passionate sister, each of them having moments that will inspire in their own way. Then Stephen Graham and Sian Clifford are differently but equally magnetic as Ederle’s two coaches. The film undoubtedly belongs to Daisy Ridley in the lead role though. Ridley’s Trudy is determined and uncompromising throughout with her drive just there beneath the surface the whole time. It is easy to see how the character as played is both underestimated and unstoppable and it’s a subtly well balanced performance.

Other films aim to break the mould then but this one knows it doesn’t need to. Like Chariots of Fire it is a classic feel good sporting triumph movie and while it won’t win that film’s Oscars it should be seen and celebrated. It might be that I was in the right mood and that it all caught me at the right moment (appropriately I was on a ferry sailing from Caen to Portsmouth at the time) but this really landed with me and is one of my favourites of the year. Don’t let it sink and be forgotten.