Watch Maiden

Maiden is a documentary film released in 2018 that chronicles the journey of Tracy Edwards, a young woman who had the determination to make history by leading the first-ever all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race. The film begins by providing a brief background of Tracy's life, from her childhood in England to her rebellious teenage years where she was sent to a reform school before eventually discovering sailing. As a young adult, Tracy's passion for sailing led her to participate in various competitions around the world, including the Fastnet Race, which was known to be extremely challenging.

Determined to prove that women have a place in the sailing world, Tracy's next goal was to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race, a grueling endurance race spanning over 32,000 nautical miles, that only a few teams would dare to compete in. When Tracy secured a sponsorship, she gathered a group of like-minded women who were willing to take up the challenge, forming the first all-female crew named 'Maiden'.

The documentary is primarily captured through archive footage from the 1989 competition, providing an intimate insight into the physical and mental challenges the ladies faced while at sea. From intense storms, sleep deprivation, injuries, and equipment failures, the crew of Maiden went through a lot in their nine months at sea.

The film also touches on the overwhelming sexism and discrimination the Maiden team faced during the race. Initially, they were dismissed and patronized by male competitors and critics alike, with many of them predicting that the all-female crew would fail to complete the race. However, Maiden began to prove their skeptics wrong, expertly maneuvering their boat through the toughest of conditions.

The emotional and physical toll of the campaign is evident in Tracy's commentary in the documentary, often revealing how challenging it was to keep the crew motivated and focused. Through interviews with Tracy and the rest of the crew, the film captures the close bond the women formed under such extremely difficult circumstances.

Maiden is a remarkable documentary that shines a light on one of the most significant events in women's sporting history. This compelling story of perseverance and triumph made headlines worldwide, and the film brings it to life in an inspiring and engaging way.

The documentary offers a chance for viewers to see how far we've come as a society, while also underscoring just how much work and effort is still needed to break down gender barriers in male-dominated professions.

The film score from Rob Simonsen is worthy of recognition, building up tension and capturing the excitement of the high seas perfectly. Directed by Alex Holmes and featuring interviews with members of the Maiden crew, the documentary highlights the strength, resilience, and determination of the women who broke the mold in sailing and inspired a generation of female racers to follow in their footsteps.

Overall, Maiden is a heartwarming documentary that stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and the courage to take a stand against discrimination. It is not just a story for sailing but for all those seeking equality in a world that does not always recognize it.

Maiden is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 82.