Nyad 2023 Movie Review

『A Woman’s Unyielding Challenge and Friendship Across a 100-Mile Sea』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: Nyad (2023)
🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA
🎞️ Genre: Sports / Biography / Drama
⏳ Runtime: 105 minutes
📢 Directors: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
🖋️ Screenplay: Julia Cox
📖 Based on: Diana Nyad, 『Find a Way』
📺 Platform: Theatrical release and streaming (varies by platform)

👩‍💼 Cast: Annette Bening – Diana Nyad
Jodie Foster – Bonnie Stoll

🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers)

🏊‍♀️ Portrait of Unyielding Will and Female Solidarity

Nyad is based on the true story of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who, in her 60s, attempts to cross 110 miles (about 177 km) from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. The film goes beyond celebrating a sporting feat to deeply explore the dynamic life of an older woman, devoted friendship, and the journey of overcoming past trauma.

🎞️ The “Inspiration Formula” of Documentary Masters

This film is the first narrative feature directed by documentary masters Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (known for Free Solo and Meru, which explored human limits).

• Familiar Formula: The film follows a classic inspirational sports structure: impossible goal → training → failure and setbacks → retry → victory. This predictability led some critics to call it a 'conventional biopic following the inspiration formula'.

• Immersive Realism: Leveraging their documentary experience, the directors vividly capture the vast and unpredictable sea and the extreme physical pain of marathon swimming. Nyad’s struggles with sharks, box jellyfish, and rough waves provide a powerful sense of immersion.

🎭 Outstanding Acting Ensemble: Bening & Foster Synergy

What elevates this film beyond a typical biopic is the explosive acting synergy between veteran actresses Annette Bening and Jodie Foster.

• Annette Bening as the ‘Bulldozer’ Nyad: Bening perfectly embodies Diana Nyad’s stubborn, self-focused, and sometimes selfish complex personality. She portrays a ‘warrior’ pushing those around her to achieve her goal, while revealing her inner vulnerability, allowing audiences to empathize with her journey. Bening’s performance navigates between obsession and madness, embedding Nyad’s cry of “Just keep going for five minutes without stopping” into the audience’s memory.

• Jodie Foster as the Devoted Coach Bonnie Stoll: Foster plays Nyad’s coach, long-time friend, and former partner Bonnie Stoll, acting as a strong stabilizing presence. Bonnie humorously handles Nyad’s self-centeredness while providing steadfast, life-preserving support. Foster’s wise and warm gaze balances Bening’s fiery performance, and their portrayal of longstanding friendship and a natural lesbian couple dynamic adds authenticity and depth. Their interactions form one of the film’s most moving axes.

🏆 Late-Life Reinvention and Overcoming Trauma

Nyad also addresses various human themes beyond Nyad’s sporting achievement.

• Defying Age Limits: The film shows Nyad restarting swimming in her 60s, directly challenging age and societal expectations. It sends a powerful message against the anxiety of aging that “‘the prime of life may be over’.” Her challenge aligns with her desire to leave no asterisk next to her greatest accomplishments, showing how late-life persistence can unlock human potential.

• Confronting Past Trauma: Flashbacks during the swims hint at childhood sexual abuse by a coach. The struggle in the vast sea is not only a physical challenge but also a process of facing and overcoming past pain. Nyad’s bodily struggle to break free from the chains of trauma gives her obsession profound emotional depth.

🌀 Critical Perspective: Omission of ‘Uncomfortable Truths’

While generally inspiring, the film cannot avoid a significant criticism.

• Avoidance of ‘Fact Distortion’ Controversy: The real Diana Nyad has faced controversies for exaggerating or embellishing some records throughout her career. The film, except for a scene where Bonnie teases Nyad about minor embellishments, intentionally omits these ‘uncomfortable truths’ and focuses on heroic narrative. Some critics argue that this omission creates an “easy, inspirational story” by ignoring complex and messy reality.

Nyad is a work that combines the exceptional performances of Annette Bening and Jodie Foster with the directors’ deep understanding of the human spirit challenging the impossible. While at times following clichés of sports biopics, it delivers substantial inspiration and emotional impact through the strength of older women, the meaning of deep friendship, and the will to overcome inner pain.

💕 Love Scene Level: ♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★