Vindication Swim (2025)

-Written by Michelle Vorob.

Vindication Swim is a dramatized biographical feature film about Mercedes Gleitze (Kirsten Callaghan), the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927. Written and directed by Elliot Hasler, Vindication Swim is still frustratingly and annoyingly relevant, as we see a talented and accomplished young woman fight for respect and recognition of her achievements. 

I'm a bit conflicted in how to describe Vindication Swim, as it hits stretches I can only describe as boring. Looking back after completing the film, my final thought on it is that Hasler wanted the film to feel as realistic as possible. I don't know what else could have been done, but the boredom detracted from the story and honestly, at one point, I would've stopped watching, had this not been for a review. That being said, I'm glad I continued, because the story was worthwhile as a whole.

Beautifully shot, this film looks authentically 1920s Britain and Mercedes Gleitze is an admirable woman, played wonderfully by Callaghan. The story of Mercedes is ever-relevant, as she was an accomplished athlete, whose skill was doubted because of her lack of social standing, gender, and the fact that someone else lied about also swimming the Channel. 

Okay, if there's one thing that pisses me off, it's attention-hungry, [spoiled] women who ruin it for the hard-working, good ones. Then every woman is a gold-digger, every woman is a liar. Give me a break. We're going on thousands of years of this. These stereotypes are so inundated in human society that it's inescapable. Rant over, but related to where Vindication Swim goes.

You think the plot of Vindication Swim is Mercedes attempting to successfully swim the Channel, but the actual plot turns out to be Mercedes having to attempt a second successful course, in order to finally prove she accomplished it earlier in the film. 

Despite a press crew documenting her, despite her coach, doctor, and onlookers confirming she completed it, Mercedes had to defend her claim in court, because a different woman lied about also swimming the Channel. What the Fuck?! Despite all of the corroborating evidence, authorities don't believe Mercedes successfully swam the Channel - you know, because this other woman lied and because Mercedes had tried to swim it in the past several times before. Sounds familiar to other claims women make that are dismissed by courts, but I digress. 

On a technical note, there are some impressive facts related to the filming of Vindication Swim. One, the scenes taking place in the Channel were actually shot in the real English Channel. No special effects, no green screen. More impressively, Kirsten Callaghan actually swam in the Channel. She didn't use a body double. There are points where all you hear is Mercedes’ pained breathing. Now I imagine that was real pain on the part of Callaghan. The commitment to authentically telling the story of Mercedes is admirable. The cast and crew did a wonderful job, down to the smallest detail and it's certainly worth watching, to honor such an inspirational woman.

Written and Directed by Elliot Hasler. 

Starring Kirsten Callaghan, John Locke, Victoria Summer, Douglas Hodge, James Wilby, Justin Hayward, Sam Bullen, Matthew Wyn Davies, etc.

7/10 WATCH IT FOR FREE