Swimmers

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Alfred B "Swimmers" (2005) starts out with the promise of a quiet, character-driven story, centered on the friendship between a young girl named Emma and an older, troubled woman. For a brief and fleeting moment, it feels like an honest and heartfelt coming-of-age narrative, full of the melancholic poetry of a summer on the Chesapeake Bay. The goodness of their friendship—a lifeline for two lonely souls—feels genuine, an interesting foundation for a film that could have been a deeply moving portrait of human connection. But then, the spell breaks. The film begins to unravel, bogged down by what feels like a forced and maudlin idea of "art." The story hits the skids as the narrative begins to prioritize a series of disconnected, often confusing, vignettes over a cohesive plot. The focus shifts away from the humanistic core of the film, and a certain kind of "business" takes over, as if the filmmakers had a checklist of indie film tropes to hit. The result is a failure of storytelling and, ultimately, a collapse of meaning. The most damning failure of "Swimmers" is its willful ignorance of the very realities that shape its characters' lives. The film's central conflict revolves around the financial strain on Emma's family due to her need for expensive surgery—a problem that is a direct result of the systemic pressures on working-class families in America, such as a lack of affordable medical insurance and unfair pay. And yet, these realities are all but ignored. The collapse of the local fishing industry, a background element that should be the very cause of the family's desperation, is treated as a piece of set dressing rather than a tangible force that is grinding down these people. The film observes the symptoms—poverty, despair, and fractured relationships—but refuses to engage with the root causes. It's a frustrating and hollow experience, as if someone is trying to make a profound statement about hardship without ever acknowledging the grinding, ugly gears of the system that create it. This is not a film about the struggle of working people; it's a film that uses their struggle as a backdrop for a self-indulgent, and ultimately meaningless, exploration of character drama. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/24/25 Full Review 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 4/5 Stars •  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 5/5 Stars •  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 4/5 Stars •  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 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic and beautiful. Paulson was excellent in this role. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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