The first narrative feature by documentary directing duo Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (‘Free Solo’, ‘The Rescue’) stars Annette Bening as marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who, at age 60, decided it was time to again attempt the 110-mile swim from Cuba to Key West. It’s a wonderfully inspirational story, and the directors do an admirable job cramming in a lot of information (including Nyad’s traumatic upbringing, swim successes, and previous failed Cuba-to-Florida attempts) without sacrificing the time required to draw us in and keep us there. Jodie Foster also shines as Nyad’s long-suffering coach, giving the film even more bona fides than it already had.
4/5 stars