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Vindication Swim

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Vindication Swim
Directed byElliott Hasler
Written byElliott Hasler
Starring
Music byDaniel Clive McCallum
Production
companies
  • Relsah Films
  • Sea High Productions
  • Arden Entertainment
Distributed byPicnik Entertainment
Release date
  • 8 March 2024 (2024-03-08)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Vindication Swim is a 2024 biographical drama film about swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel. The film is written and directed by Elliott Hasler, starring Kirsten Callaghan in the lead role with John Locke playing her coach and Victoria Summer as a rival swimmer.[1]

The film is produced by Relsah Films in association with Sea High Productions, Arden Entertainment and distributed by Picnik Entertainment. It was released in the UK and Ireland on 8 March 2024.[2]

Premise

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Vindication Swim depicts the story of Mercedes Gleitze, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel. The film portrays Gleitze’s upstream struggle in overcoming both the cold waters of the English Channel and the oppressive society of 1920s Britain. However, after a rival comes forward claiming to have accomplished the same feat, Mercedes is forced into battle to retain her record and her legacy.[3]

Cast

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Production

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It was announced in 2018 that Hasler was writing a screenplay based around Mercedes Gleitze's 1927 attempt to become the first British woman to swim the English Channel, and that he intended for this to be his next project following the completion of his first feature WWII: The Long Road Home.[6][7] John Locke was cast as Gleitze's coach, Harold Best, and sat in on auditions for the role of Gleitze.[8] Kirsten Callaghan was cast as Mercedes Gleitze in June 2019.[9]

Filming began on 12 August 2019 for the swimming sequences in the English Channel off the coast of Newhaven.[10] At the end of September, filming of on-land exteriors and interiors took place across Sussex, which was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12][13][14] Filming locations include Brighton, Eastbourne, Lewes, Hastings and Worthing.[15] Additional scenes were also shot in Birmingham. Filming eventually wrapped in June 2021.

In November 2020, it was reported by Deadline that actress Victoria Summer had joined the production as Edith Gade, a rival swimmer[3] who attempts to usurp Gleitze's record.[1] In January 2022, Variety reported that actors Douglas Hodge and James Wilby had also joined the cast.[3] The film is being scored by Daniel Clive McCallum.[1][3]

Release

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The film is distributed by Picnik Entertainment and was released theatrically in the UK and Ireland on 8 March 2024.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ramos, Dino-Ray (2 November 2020). "Victoria Summer Dives Into Indie Biopic 'Vindication Swim' From Director Elliott Hasler". Deadline. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  2. ^ Brown, David (29 January 2024). "First British woman to swim the Channel set to make a splash again". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Yossman, K. J. (28 January 2022). "Elliott Hasler's 'Vindication Swim' Biopic Casts Douglas Hodge, James Wilby (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Football manager Billy Reid follows Vinnie Jones, Eric Cantona and David Beckham as he stars in movie". HeraldScotland. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "MP Tim Loughton makes film debut". The Argus. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Filmmaker asks public to help him tell the story of forgotten historical figure". The Argus. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ^ Walker, Tim (8 October 2020). "MANDRAKE: Former Today editor takes on Andrew Neil". The New European. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  8. ^ Hasler, Elliott (1 August 2019). "What it's Like to be the UK's Youngest Film Director". Raindance. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Elliott, Kirsten & John Interviewed on BBC South East TV & BBC Sussex Radio". Relsah Productions. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Young film director wants to create the next Quadrophenia". The Argus. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Film crews spotted in Lewes – this is why". www.sussexexpress.co.uk. July 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. ^ "IN PICTURES: Eastbourne Pier turns film star!". www.westsussextoday.co.uk. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Filming takes place in Hastings for new movie about the first English woman to swim the Channel". www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Director cannot wait to resume filming biopic of incredible female swimmer". The Argus. 9 May 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  15. ^ Logan, Jennifer (1 July 2020). "Film crews spotted in Lewes – this is why". Sussex Express. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  16. ^ Brown, David (29 January 2024). "First British woman to swim the Channel set to make a splash again". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
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