SWIMMING FOR GOLD

Australia, 2020, 91 minutes, Colour.
Peyton List, Lauren Esposito, Daniel Needs, Olivia Nardini, Johrel Martschinke, Ray Chong Nee.
Directed by Hayley Mac Farlane.

No mystery in the title. This is definitely a film for those who are swimming fans, especially competitive swimming.

This is a tale with many familiar aspects, designed for a younger audience, young adults, older teens, younger teens. And, there is a definite appeal to a female audience who will respond immediately to three of the central characters, some initial disapproval, a lot of exasperation, quite a number of hopes, and as expected, there is some reconciliation. And there is also the energy of competitiveness. Not that there is not an appeal to a male audience, an invitation to identify with the very presentable young men swimmers and their stories.

In fact, the central character is American, played by Peyton List who has appeared, since she was four, in many American films and television shows. She is Claire Carpenter, a former champion who has developed a phobia about water, has walked away from competition and is idling her time at home. Her patient and considerate father eventually arranges for her to become the assistant coach in Brisbane. Off to Australia.

All the action is in Australia, scenes of Brisbane, a swimming camp in quite a mansion outside Brisbane, with its swimming pool, shared rooms, dining room… And an attractive bush excursion to a special waterfall and pool.

Actually, credibility is seriously challenged when we are introduced to the coach, Bodhi, of Indian ancestry (Ray Chong Nee), with humorous overtones, someone we might never associate with training a swimming team. A talent (?) for motivation, reflecting, visualising, and cultivating plants for healthy drinks. He has known Claire’s father in the past. He hands over to Claire – but she is generally disagreeable, reserved, rather indolent. (This is especially highlighted by the character of Annabelle (Olivia Nardini), a hyperactive swimmer, Claire’s fan, with bursts of hysterical enthusiasm.)

The two central characters are Liam (Daniel Needs), an agreeable medical student who loves swimming, attracted to Claire, but very disappointed in her – and, thank goodness, challenging her in her attitudes, especially towards coaching. The other character is Mikayla (Laura Esposito), a former rival, and they find themselves sharing a room which adds to Claire’s hostile feelings.

One doesn’t need to be a prophet to appreciate what is going to happen – its going along with what happens on the way that is the important part of the film.

Will the team win the national competition…?!!

1. The title and expectations? A swimming story? Competitions? Rivalry and victories?

2. The target audience? Young adults? Older teenagers, younger teenagers? The appeal to female audiences? Secondarily to male audiences? To all swimming fans?

3. Queensland setting, Sundale mansion, interiors, exteriors, the swimming pool? The visit to the bush, the waterfall and pool? Some Brisbane sequences and walks? The final competition? The musical score?

4. The introduction to Claire? Her swimming career, her age, the phobia, her walking away, the journalist in the water and its being videoed and circulated? At home, idle, her father concerned, organising her to Australia? To assist in coaching? Drawing on his friendship with Cambodia?

5. Bodhi, the Indian background, greetings, motivational techniques, Indian traditions? As a personality? Eccentric? And the credibility of his being a swimming coach? His encouraging Claire, his going away to visualise – and her urging him to this?

6. Claire, the chip on her shoulder, unpleasant? The initial encounter with Daniel? The attraction? Meeting Bodhi? Having to share a room with her rival, Mikayla? Hostility, the division down the centre of the room? The rules for the room? Mikayla tidy, Claire and her mess?

7. Annabelle, ultra-enthusiastic, the touch of hysteria? Claire’s fan, haunting her, Claire resisting? Annabelle becoming her assistant? Her own swimming career?

8. The male swimmers, the group, Daniel, his parents and their wanting him to study medicine, his enthusiastic swimming performances, friendship with Cooper? The other members of the group? The training, hopes and ambitions? Bodhi and his being ineffectual? Claire and the initial sessions, their idling and playing? Daniel eventually challenging Claire?

9. Clare, dislike, the water throwing prank? The later apology? The phone calls from her father?

10. The moment of transition? The influence of Daniel? Her taking the coaching seriously? The training sessions? Time and punctuality? The exercises, the styles? The group gradually responding?

11. The frank talking with Mikayla, the accusation of stealing the goggles, the revelation was the Chinese girl? The mellowing between the two, apologies? Claire tidying the room?

12. Cooper, friendship with Daniel, but his preferring gaming?

13. The buildup to the competition, time passing, the practice, Daniel and his parents and the medical meeting, his talking with Claire, bonding?

14. The competition, Bodhi and his arriving, the drink and the mixture of herbs, his visualising? The fans, the parents? The rivalry with the Chinese? Memories of the past? The races, Annabelle coming second and delighted? Daniel winning, Cooper coming third? Mikayla beating the Chinese rival? The group winning the competition, their centre not being close down, the sponsors renewing? Emu milk!

15. Daniel, the excitement of his parents? Cooper telling his parents that he wanted to be a gamer – their excitement at his being in competition?

16. The invitation for Claire to stay Australia, her meeting Daniel’s parents, being his girlfriend?