Nyad is a biopic about Diana Nyad’s 2013 attempt to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys at 61 years of age. It stars Annette Bening as Nyad and Jodie Foster as her best friend, Bonnie Stoll.
Although Nyad is portrayed as a self-centered and careless woman, Bening humanizes her enough for the viewer to understand more than what is seen on the outside. We see Nyad as stubborn, unable to accept defeat, unwilling to accept rolls pushed upon her by society, and utterly human. Bening’s performance is incredible and precise, it never faulters.
The deep friendship between Diana and Bonnie is convincing. They share a closeness that borders on intimate. When Diana is asked at a party if she and Bonnie are together, Diana responds that they had dated for a second years ago. Bonnie is probably the only person who truly understands Diana and accepts her faults and strong points. A part of me wishes they were lovers, but perhaps the barrier of friendship is what keeps them together.
Swimming from Cuba to the Florida is no simple feat, and it takes a team to make it happen. Although Nyad shows a handful of people working to make the swim happen safely, Nyad actually had around 40 team members. Of the crew, Nyad focuses on John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans), the sea navigator. John not only navigates the dangers of the sea, but also keeps an eye on the weather and sets the time the swim is to begin.
Nyad is incredibly well put together. From visuals to pacing, the story holds up and never lags. The banter between the characters is realistic, and it’s not afraid to show the downsides and dangers of long-distance swimming.
Ultimately, Nyad is a buddy movie about two women going against the odds to fulfill a dream. It’s engrossing, beautiful, and entertaining.
