Nyad is a biographical tale of perseverance and defying expectations. At age 60, acclaimed marathon swimmer Diana Nyad (Annette Benning) wants to complete a lifelong ambition. Even though it has been literal decades since she was in the water, Diana wants to swim from Cuba to Florida. At first, Diana’s best friend Bonnie (Jodie Foster) thinks she’s delusional. However, after seeing the passion and resolve in Diana’s eyes, she agrees to train her. From there, Diana and Bonnie assemble a crew willing to go along for the literal ride as they figure out how to make this dream a reality.
What works in Nyad is the portrayal of friendship and determination. Benning’s performance as Nyad feels nuanced which makes it both relatable and believable. By all accounts, Nyad is/was a stubborn, self-focused individual (as one would have to be to take on a challenge like this). Fortunately, directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (Free Solo) take a refreshingly honest approach to the characters by highlighting these aspects of Nyad’s personality and never shying away from them. This raw examination of the central character buoys Foster’s supporting role, giving her plenty to work with as she navigates being a friend, coach, and realist. Finally, the swimming sequences feel authentic and give the audience a sense of the mental and physical energy required to even attempt this feat.
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Audiences who don’t enjoy sports-style movies likely won’t enjoy Nyad as much as others. The formula on display has been executed upon countless times, and Nyad has very few deviations from it. The ending is obvious/predictable, but in fairness the film covers a fairly recent event as the swim happened in 2013. Furthermore, Nyad’s prickly demeanour may bristle some people. Despite all her talent, Diana makes it very hard to root for her given inherent rudeness and egotistical nature.
Nyad is a lovely film that features a pair of great performances from Benning and Foster. While the structure may feel familiar, the dual focus on the training/logistics and the relationships keeps the film incredibly fresh. Highly recommended for anyone curious about this rather impressive story of never giving up, even when everyone says you’re past your prime.
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Nyad is now available to stream exclusively through Netflix.
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