Disney+ film on swimmer Gertrude Ederle premieres July 19

Joachim Rønning's film 'La Ragazza del Mare' (The Girl of the Sea) will be released on Disney+ on July 19, 2024, ahead of the Paris Olympics. The biopic follows Gertrude Ederle (1905–2003), who on August 6, 1926 became the first woman to swim the English Channel, crossing from Cap Gris-Nez, France to Kingsdown, England in 14 hours and 34 minutes—beating the previous men's record by over two hours. The screenplay by Jeff Nathanson is based on Glenn Stout's book. Daisy Ridley stars as Ederle, with Tilda Cobham-Hervey as her sister Meg, Kim Bodnia as her father, and Jeanette Hain as her mother. The film highlights Ederle's battles against social conventions, stereotypes, and natural forces in the 1920s, as well as the support of her family and sister.