"Nyad" A story of friendship between women, told by Annette Bening and Jodie Foster

Music that naiads listen to underwater

Naiad was born in 1949, so she spent her youth in the 1960s and early 1970s, and the songs in the film represent her feelings.

When Naiad returns to swimming after a long hiatus and dives into the pool, Simon & Garfunkel's " Sound of Silence " plays. The lyrics, "Hello darkness, I've come to talk to you again," express the feelings of Naiad as she is confronted with the world of water once again.

And CSN&Y's " Carrie On " speaks to Nyad's feelings as she slowly begins to spend more time swimming in the ocean. The lyrics "A new day is coming" echo her progress.

In 2011, at the age of 61, Naiad attempted to cross the Florida Straits for the first time (for the second time in his life) in his 60s, but failed. In the same year, at the age of 62, he attempted his second long-distance swim in his 60s, and the lively Drifters song " Save the Last Dance for Me " plays. However, after that, he is attacked by a jellyfish...

Then, in 2012, when he was 62 and trying for the third time, the weather was bad and a terrible storm hit the sea. During the scene where the waves were raging, Janis Joplin's " Piece of My Heart " was played. Janis' intense shout singing "Break the pieces of my heart" strangely matches the images of the stormy night, making for an impactful scene (the director also said that he had a lot of trouble filming it).

After that, people around him, including Bonnie, refuse to help him, but he still refuses to give up and in 2013, at the age of 64, he attempts for the fourth time (fifth time in his life). Neil Young's " Heart of Gold " plays during the scene at the beach. The lyrics "Even when I get old, I still look for a heart of gold" express the feelings of the protagonist.

As the smooth swimming continues, the song that plays in the background is Roy Orbison's " Crying ," an upbeat song with the lyrics, "I'm crying for you."

Most of the songs are hits by famous musicians, but the songs are chosen to perfectly match the protagonist's situation and feelings (in the play, the protagonist is said to have prepared 85 songs for swimming).

The film's theme song is " Find a Way " (the same title as the original book), a new song by young British singer-songwriter Jade Bird.

The film "Naiad: The Determination to Cross the Sea" is now available exclusively on Netflix

The poem "The Summer Day" by American poet Mary Oliver also appears. Set in a book of poems left by the protagonist's late mother, the poem contains the words "What will you do with your one and only life?", a question addressed to the protagonist, who is now in her 60s and living an aimless life, and serves as a keyword to encourage new resolve.

"Naiad" follows the courageous challenge of a woman who begins to think about the rest of her life, but it also highlights the importance of the friends who support her in her challenge.

Among them, the relaxed performance of British actor Rhys Ifans, who plays the ship's navigator, is also unforgettable. He also gave good performances in " Notting Hill " (1999) and " Snowden " (2016), and while he sometimes opposes the main character, he shows good taste in the role of a man who supports her adventure.

Veteran American critic Leonard Maltin chose this film as one of his favorite films of 2013, commenting: "The scenes with Annette Bening and Jodie Foster together are truly enjoyable and one of the most memorable in this year's films. They are so natural that it doesn't seem like they're acting. I would also personally recommend Rhys Ifans as a candidate for this year's Best Supporting Actor award."

While the two actresses stand out in this film, the veteran actor's mature charm also adds a nice spice to the film.

Text: Sawako Omori

Movie journalist. His books include "Lost Cinema" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha) and other books, and his translations include "Woody" (by D. Evanier, Kinema Junposha). Contributes to magazines such as ``Music Magazine'' and ``Kinema Junpo.'' A research book based on the web series, ``Mini Theater Revisited,'' is also scheduled to be published.

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The film "Naiad: The Determination to Cross the Sea" is now available exclusively on Netflix