Nyad (2023) Movie: Inspirational Tale Of A Marathon Swimmer

Nyad movie narrates an inspirational tale of a real-life marathon swimmer. She set out to fulfil her lifelong dream of swimming a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida.

About a decade ago, she realized and fulfilled her childhood dream, in 2013. Additionally, those interested in knowing more about her can check her website.- Diana Nyad.

Synopsis (official summary) of this 2023 Sports Biography Movie

A remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship and the triumph of the human spirit, NYAD recounts a riveting chapter in the life of world-class athlete Diana Nyad. Three decades after giving up marathon swimming in exchange for a prominent career as a sports journalist, at the age of 60, Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her: the 110-mile trek from Cuba to Florida, often referred to as the “Mount Everest” of swims. Determined to become the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage, Diana goes on a thrilling, four-year journey with her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster) and a dedicated sailing team.

Spoiler-Free Review of the Nyad (2023/USA) movie

About NYAD

According to Greek Mythology, NYAD is one of the nymphs who lived in and presided over brooks, springs, and fountains. So, NYAD is a girl’s name and it means “water nymph.”

So, what is the story of Diana in this film?

This film depicts the extraordinary true story of athlete Diana. At the age of 60 years (please note – the Government Officials in India retire at this age), she decides to swim from Cuba to Florida in the USA. Notably, she reached this decision, after celebrating her sixtieth birthday. In a way, the following literary poetic lines by the poet Mary Oliver inspired her to take a plunge into the deep end of the ocean and try to swim miles across it, perhaps a little late in her life. Isn’t it? Nah.

Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

(Poem The Summer Day by the Poet Mary Oliver) 

{Please note:- we have share the complete poem in the bonus info. below}

Furthermore, we learn that at the young age of 28 years, she had tried to swim across the Atlantic Ocean from Cuba to the Florida Keys earlier. But at that time, she had failed.

Then, LIFE happened to NYAD too. Three long decades went by. And, it appeared as if she had forgotten about fulfilling her lifelong dream of the cross-country swim in the said ocean. So, she gave up marathon swimming and instead picked up sports journalism as a career. However, after hitting the sixty-year mark, she rekindled her swim dream.

She does not believe in the imposed limitations of age and sexism. Therefore, she starts swimming once again, while the playlist of her favourite songs plays in her mind and heart.

This song plays, while Nyad resumes swimming in the title sequence of the film. 

Hello darkness, my old friendI've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone

(Song The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel)

{Please note:- we have share the complete lyrics of the song in the bonus info. below}

She became fiercely determined to become the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage in that raging Atlantic ocean. Thus, this film focuses on how sixty (60+) year-old Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) goes on a stirring life journey along with her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster) to complete the marathon swim. In her endeavour, she is not alone, a team of great people actively assist her to fulfil her dream and never give up.

Annette Bening & Jodie Foster and the conclusion

This film is worth viewing for the moving acting performances by Annette and Jodie. Their fascinating portrayal of the real-life friendship between Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll is admirable. Every relationship has its highs and lows. No doubt, both the skilled actresses – Annette and Jodie are worth their weight in gold for their acts.

However, the following controversy around the swimming achievements of Diana Nyad might hurt their chance when the movie award season comes around.

Nyad's crossing from Cuba to Florida has never been formally ratified due to the lack of independent observers and incomplete records. The Guinness Book of World Records revoked Nyad's achievement.

Not to forget the actor Rhys Ifans (John Bartlett), who did well too.

All kinds of human emotions are displayed in this film. We also liked the poem and the selection of its music playlist. Besides, there are important learnings from this film.

1. Never ever give up,
2. Never too old to chase your dreams, and
3. Her marathon swimming looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team.

So, her real-life team members included Luke Tipple (shark expert), Dr Angel Yanagihara (box jellyfish+expert/biochemist), Dee Brady (Captain), and John Bartlett (Navigator).

To conclude, it is a good film if you love real-life sports biography. The one that inspires oneself, to go ahead and try to fulfil your lifelong dream, despite all kinds of hurdles.

Rating of this 2023 Sports Biography movie from the USA

Bonus Info. about – The Summer Day poem

The Summer Day poem by the poet Mary Oliver

Who made the world?Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down —
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Poster of this 2023 Sports Biography movie from the USA

Key details of this 2023 Sports Biography movie from the USA

Trailer of this 2023 Sports Biography Movie

Bonus Info. about – The Sound of Silence song

The Sound of Silence song by Simon & Garfunkel 

Hello darkness, my old friendI've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming

And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence"

In case you like watching real-life sports biographies like this one, then go ahead and read our FM article about the Gran Turismo and the AIR movies, too.

Featured Image and poster of the Nyad (2023) Movie | Netflix.