A film inspired by a true story
The Girl and the Sea is an adaptation of a book written by Jessica Watson in 2010. The Australian skipper tells the story of the circumnavigation of the globe that she completed at the age of 16, solo, non-stop and without assistance. She left Sydney on October 18, 2009 and returned 210 days later, after rounding three capes and crossing three oceans.
Jessica achieved this incredible feat by embarking on a Sparkman & Stephens 34, with a girly decoration and named Ella's Pink Lady .
A rhythmic staging but full of approximations
Made with a low budget, the sailing scenes were mostly shot in studio, and are unfortunately crudely realized. The few shots shot at sea, in the vicinity of Sydney, save the day and give a semblance of realism to this adaptation.
In addition to the sailing scenes, the film highlights the media machine that Jessica Watson and her family had to deal with before the start. Her detractors were numerous and the Australian government even tried to forbid the sailing, arguing the young age of the sailor.
The staging is punctuated by alternating flashbacks on Jessica's childhood, all enhanced by a soundtrack girly power which transports the viewer into the imagination of the young adult.
The casting is quite good, with actors well in their roles, and who are inspired by Jessica's family. Only the character of the coach, played by Cliff Curtis, is imaginary. He was created based on the different supports Jessica received, notably the Australian sailors Bruce Arms and Don McIntyre. Don McIntyre is now the organizer of the Ocean Globe Race, the non-stop, single-handed, round-the-world race on vintage sailboats.
The myth of the 40 meter wave
Staging sea stories is a perilous cinematographic exercise. Many have failed to do so, especially by overexploiting the dramatic side that the sea inspires in screenwriters. This Netflix production is no exception to the rule, and some scenes are devoid of any realism.
The mythical 40-meter wave, the one that has already sunk so many boats in other films, is once again called upon to crash down on the young Australian girl, in a total maritime incoherence.
A production intended for an audience of young children
The Girl and the Sea tells a beautiful story of a sailor and will allow all generations to discover the epic of this young skipper. If it is obvious that the sailors will not find themselves in the technical approximations and the scenes shot in studio, this film remains nevertheless a pleasant entertainment for a young public.
