Filmmaker Scheduled to Appear, Rental
The real-life journey of Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim the English Channel, who endured grueling conditions and societal pressures in her fight for recognition. Q&A with the filmmaker to follow.
Vindication Swim tells the remarkable story of Mercedes Gleitze, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel. Facing press hostility, anti-immigrant bias, and constraints on women in sport, Mercedes’ achievement remains a powerful testament to her grit, courage, and determination. Writer-director Elliott Hasler—only 23 when the film premiered—pursued period authenticity through grassroots collaboration with coastal communities throughout the UK. Three years in the making, the film’s swimming sequences were shot miles out in the Channel, vividly capturing the perils of Mercedes’ epic crossing. [98 min; drama; English]
A Q&A with director Elliott Hasler and Radhika Parameswaran (Herman B Wells Endowed Professor, Media School) will follow the screening.
Co-sponsored by the IU School of Public Health–Bloomington and The Media School.
“By grounding his storytelling so assuredly in realism, and trusting his audience’s intelligence, Hasler has crafted a resonant thematic tapestry as immersive as the waters Gleitze so bravely conquered.” — Arash Nahandian, Gazettely
“A truly epic independent film on a scale never seen before.” — The Language of Film
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
