Swimmers

Released Jan 26, 2005

1h 30m

Drama

List

83%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Emma (Tara Devon Gallagher), 11, comes from fishing folk in the Chesapeake Bay area. She loves the water, but a swimming accident leaves her needing expensive surgery to save her hearing. Her financially strapped parents cannot afford the procedure, and tensions at home drive young Emma to find companionship with a troubled stranger (Sarah Paulson).

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Audience Member

In spite of some continuity issues and a story that seemed rushed and a bit disjointed, especially in the early going, I found myself drawn into this family portrait. The story is told from the viewpoint of a lonely eleven year-old girl who becomes friends with an older girl, played by Sarah Paulson. The young girl, Emma (Tara Devon Gallagher), is facing surgery on her ear to save her hearing, but her family is struggling financially and cannot afford the operation. As her family slowly disintegrates from the financial pressures, she finds refuge with Merrill, who can be very real and tender with Emma, but exhibits unstable characteristics with men closer to her own age. Not a lot of star power here (the only other name I recognized was Cherry Jones, who played Emma's mother), but the cast was quite believable as these small-town folk, just trying to live their lives of quiet desperation. I found it interesting to see Paulson in an early role.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is another superb indie film. Indie productions do not fill the megaplex, but can be a breath of fresh air. I just saw this one for the second time in several years. I didn't intend to watch it all the way through; I just started it to remind myself of the interesting, quirky characters. And I ended up watching it all the way through again. Great performances by some very fine actors. I recommend it highly. In fact, I challenge you to watch a film that isn't showing at the megaplex. It's an instant viewing choice right now on Netflix.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A beautifully acted independent film that takes place here on the eastern shore of Maryland.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Tara Devon Gallagher is such a natural as an 11 year old girl living with her working class family in Chesapeake Bay. Incredible film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fantastic and beautiful. Paulson was excellent in this role.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

i can't dislike anything with Cherry Jones or Sarah Paulson, and a movie with them together is just kind of a little slice of heaven. it was a bit trite and cliche at parts, but the acting was very good all around.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

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Doug Sadler

Director

Tara Devon Gallagher

Emma

Shawn Hatosy

Clyde

Cherry Jones

Julia

Sarah Paulson

Merrill

Robert Knott

Will

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68%

30%

The Reception

83%

79%

Sequins

60%

43%

Winter Solstice

68%

50%

What Alice Found

24%

60%

Stateside

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Steven Winn

San Francisco Chronicle

Well-observed but self-consciously studied family drama.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 16, 2006

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Practices a writerly movie poetry, which -- at its best -- is delicately elegiac.

Jun 8, 2006

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Eventually drowns from dramatic inertia.

Sep 24, 2005

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Willie Waffle

WaffleMovies.com

an emotional movie that draws you in with its heart and ambition, even if the storytelling and dialogue need some help.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 8, 2006

Full Review

Daniel Wible

Film Threat

If you're a lover of the finest in film acting and potent drama, Swimmers is one of those 'smaller' films you won't want to miss.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 24, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Emma (Tara Devon Gallagher), 11, comes from fishing folk in the Chesapeake Bay area. She loves the water, but a swimming accident leaves her needing expensive surgery to save her hearing. Her financially strapped parents cannot afford the procedure, and tensions at home drive young Emma to find companionship with a troubled stranger (Sarah Paulson).

Director: Doug Sadler
Producer: Ophira Dagan, Lisa Green, Eran Conforty
Screenwriter: Doug Sadler
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 26, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.4K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital