Film Analysis: In ‘Nyad,’ A Riveting Performance by Annette Bening Underlines Jodie Foster’s Supporting Role

In the film “Nyad,” two separate yet interconnected feats of resilience are portrayed. Firstly, there is the unyielding resolve of Diana Nyad, played by Annette Bening, who aims to complete a daunting swim from Cuba to Florida, traversing 103 miles of perilous, shark-infested waters. In parallel, the movie also spotlights the fortitude of Nyad’s support crew, who must manage and endure Nyad’s highly self-focused and obstinate disposition. Both elements constitute a sort of endurance competition within the narrative.

Scheduled for limited theatrical release this Friday and set to stream on Netflix starting November 3, “Nyad” can be described as a traditional sports drama, complete with significant challenges and moments of personal victory. Yet the film, directed by seasoned filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, does more than merely conform to the conventions of the sports biography genre; it manages to navigate deftly to a satisfying conclusion.

One distinguishing feature of the film is its focus on two main actresses in their sixties: Bening and Jodie Foster, who portrays Diana’s confidante and fitness coach, Bonnie Stoll. The narrative does not revisit the 1970s—the era when Nyad made waves with her record-setting swims—but instead, it commences on the occasion of Diana’s 60th birthday. For Diana, this milestone emphasizes her prolonged absence from formidable challenges, prompting her to question, “Where’s the excellence?”

Diana promptly returns to aquatic training, resolute in her ambition to complete the arduous Cuba-to-Florida swim—a path that some viewers might associate more with the speedboats featured in Michael Mann’s “Miami Vice” than with athletic feats. For Diana, this 50-hour venture serves as the fulfillment of a long-deferred dream and a testament to her belief that her age is irrelevant to her willpower.

Neither tempestuous weather nor painful jellyfish stings deter her from her mission. Her motto might as well be an amplified version of “Just keep swimming,” leaving even fictional swimmers like Dory far behind.

The film mainly serves as a platform for Bening’s impressive performance, but Foster’s compelling secondary role adds significant depth to “Nyad.” Foster’s uncommon appearance on screen these days amplifies her naturally compelling warmth and poise. The film achieves a balance between Diana’s almost reckless drive and Bonnie’s devoted yet measured support, reminding viewers of Foster’s significant talent.

Additional characters also enrich the narrative, including Rhys Ifans as John Bartlett, a gruff sea-captain and navigator. Though his role may seem clichéd, his likability is indisputable. Nyad, in real life often a brazen self-publicist, is rarely inclined to yield the spotlight, and the film commendably counters this aspect of its central character even as it praises her.

The movie does acknowledge Nyad’s disputed accomplishment—her 2013 swim to the Florida Keys was never officially verified by the World Open Water Swimming Association. Despite skepticism from her peers, Nyad insists that she successfully completed the swim unaided. The film occasionally goes to lengths to portray her as adhering to the rules.

Directors Vasarhelyi and Chin, in their narrative film debut, skillfully integrate documentary footage, a nod to their background in non-fiction cinema. Their oeuvre, including the Academy Award-winning “Free Solo” and “The Rescue,” has been noted not only for filmmaking prowess but also for insightful explorations into the psychology of extreme physical endeavor. “Nyad” employs flashbacks to Diana’s earlier life, including a disturbing episode involving an anonymous swim coach accused of sexual assault, to delve into her motivational core.

Like the protagonists in “Free Solo” and “The Rescue,” “Nyad” persuasively contends that achieving something monumental might necessitate a certain level of self-deception.

The film “Nyad,” distributed by Netflix, has received a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association for thematic elements concerning sexual abuse, some strong language, and brief partial nudity. The movie has a runtime of 121 minutes and garners a three-out-of-four-star rating.

The story has been revised to correct the initial misspelling of Diana Nyad’s name.

For further insights, you can follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP.

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More about film analysis

• Nyad Official Trailer
• Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin Filmography
• Annette Bening IMDb Profile
• Jodie Foster IMDb Profile
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Motion Picture Association Rating System
• AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter
• Review of “Free Solo,” directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
• The Reality and Controversy Surrounding Diana Nyad’s Swim