Nyad

Director: Jimmy Chin, and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (2023)                

Cast: Annette Benning, Jodie Foster

This is one of the greatest and inspirational swimming movies you will ever see.

It's a wonder as they were preparing to make Nyad, the producers had a decision to make between Annette Benning and Jodie Foster to play Diana Nyad. The two actresses we're close in age and easily could play the iconic swimmer. Do you go with Jodie Foster, who now has 12 Oscar nominations and three Oscars in her lucrative career? Or do you go with Annette Benning, who has four nominations in her marvelous career?

In the end Annette Benning took on the lead of Nyad and Foster played Bonnie Stoll, Nayad’s confident and close friend who ran the show. In the 1980s Diana Nyad was an extreme athlete, who tried three times to complete the arduous 110- mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida. Even though she never realised her dream, her notoriety and can-do spirit, and love of life made her very popular and opened the door for her to be a sports commentator, motivational speaker, and author.

Then at 60+ years old and all her accomplishments, the one thing that nagged her was not finishing the swim from Cuba to Florida. She contacted her old friend Bonnie and asked her to help make dream of come true. They got a boat whose captain whose name is Dude (played by Marcos Diaz).  Her fourth her attempt, started out right but started having problems with jellyfish and strong currents that Nyad struggled with, eventually doomed the attempt. Diana and Bonnie went to regroup and figure out what the next move was. Nearly running out of funds, Diana and Bonnie had enough for one more try and the dude wanted to be a part of it too. Diana and Bonnie realized what went wrong and made some adjustments and with the dude helming the boat again, maybe the fifth chance maybe the right chance. Finally, things finally went their way. The weather was good. Diana was able to stay in the water for a long time with nothing blocking her way. So, the 5th try was the best try and everything came together.

Fun Fact: The film was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best actress Annette Benning and best supporting actress Jodie Foster.