Young Woman and the Sea

Right now you can watch Young Woman and the Sea in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 441 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Daisy Ridley — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Young Woman and the Sea earns its spot. Young Woman and the Sea trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. This is the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. 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 21-mile trek from France to England. Daisy Ridley and Tilda Cobham-Hervey lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2024. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Young Woman and the Sea. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Daisy Ridley's work here is the kind that gets referenced in career retrospectives. It makes everything else feel thin by comparison.