True Spirit

A biographical movie about Jessica Watson, who became the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the world alone in 2009. The film, which stars Teagan Croft and is directed by Sarah Spillane, details Watson's journey and the support she received from her family and manager.

Despite criticism from the media and government officials, Watson persevered and completed her journey, overcoming multiple storms and windless stasis. The film showcases the beautiful sailing sequences and pays homage to Watson's determination, making her a symbol of the "can-do spirit."

However, the film has its flaws. The screenplay tends to disrupt the dramatic momentum, and the perky, clean-scrubbed tone makes the film feel like a Disney Channel movie. The film also oversimplifies the story, focusing solely on vindicating Watson and her family and coach, while ignoring the messiness of real life.

Overall, "True Spirit" is a suitable movie for younger audiences, but for those looking for a more nuanced and thorough account of Watson's journey, her memoir and the 2010 documentary "210 Days" are recommended.

I watched this as I am a sailor and I was curious to see where her story fit in with Abby Sunderland, who tried the same feat at teh same age but failed after a storm in the southern ocean.

As some have said I also think the film was made in a Disney style to highlight the spirit of exploration, adventure and courage. It does it splendidly and is a joy to watch for that reason.

As a record of Watson's achievement though I think it falls short. The things she went through including being becalmed for a full week would have been horrifying. And the storm scenes almost romanticise storms rather than showing the real turmoil that Watson went through.

It showed nothing of the struggle she would have faced sailing the boat although does touch on her loneliness. I think as a record of her adventure it was below par.

I haven't read her memoir but I believe I will now to get the first hand real account, not the sanitised version from a director.

Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, tonight we are discussing the Movie, True Spirit. I watched it on Netflix. The Movie first aired January 25, 2023. It has a runtime of 1h 49 minutes. True Spirit was rated PG. The Movie was directed and created by Sarah Spillane as well as created by Rebecca Banner and Cathy Randall.

Summary: In a daring quest to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the globe, the determined young sailor Jessica Watson faces scepticism from many who doubt her ability to succeed. With unwavering support from her mentor and sailing coach Ben Bryant, along with her devoted parents, Jessica embarks on an extraordinary journey across some of the most treacherous oceans, battling the odds over an incredible 210 days.

Review: -I don't recall keeping up with the real story when I was younger; I would have been around 10 years old at the time. However, I'm glad to be learning about it now. I appreciated how the movie began, featuring a voiceover and showcasing some of the characters in their younger years. This approach allowed us to feel as though we were witnessing their growth alongside our own, as the characters have aged a bit since then.

The film featured several scenes with subdued lighting, yet everything essential within the frame was clearly visible. I appreciated the cinematography, particularly the point-of-view shots that immerse viewers in Jessica's journey, allowing us to feel as if we are by her side through her challenges and victories. The close-up shots effectively capture Jessica's emotional states throughout her expedition, emphasizing her moments of fear, determination, and introspection. These intimate visuals convey her internal struggles and growth over the course of her 210-day voyage. Additionally, the aerial photography highlights the vastness of the ocean, providing context for Jessica's sense of isolation during her journey.

One particular moment startled me as an object fell toward the camera. While I found the editing satisfactory, I appreciated the on-screen text indicating the number of days elapsed; however, I believe it could have been presented more effectively.

I appreciated the set design as it appeared believable for the most part. However, I believe the film could have enhanced its realism with minor details. For instance, when the character forgot to pack essentials like a hairbrush and resorted to using forks as a makeshift brush, they did not depict her actually brushing her hair with it. Additionally, I noticed that her hair never seemed messy during scenes set in severe storms; it looked too perfect. Even when characters got wet, they appeared dry in subsequent scenes. In the movie, Jessica wore Converse shoes, which are popular casual footwear. However, I doubt that Jessica would realistically choose to undertake the long and challenging sailing expedition in them due to their lack of waterproofing and support. It is likely that she would have opted for more suitable sailing footwear in the true story.

I appreciated the soundtrack; it complemented the scenes effectively. There were several songs I recognized, which is unusual for me when watching films. I was pleased that the movie included subtitles, allowing me to easily follow the dialogue when necessary. The cast was strong, and while they bore some resemblance to the real-life individuals from the story, it wasn't strikingly similar. The acting was decent but not particularly memorable. I enjoyed seeing Jessica's perspective as viewers experienced her anticipation and reactions to updates.

I believe the film had a significant opportunity to educate viewers about sailing, but it fell short in that regard. While it touched on the protagonist's loneliness, it did not adequately depict her struggles. In the movie, Jessica frequently uses her phone; however, in reality, internet connectivity would likely be insufficient for streaming video in one of the world's most remote oceans. Additionally, the boat appeared remarkably well-maintained with no visible signs of wear or damage, despite the challenges it faced in real life. I would have appreciated seeing close-ups of any damage to enhance authenticity.

-I feel that we didn't gain much insight into Jessica beyond her lifelong dream of sailing around the world. Personally, I found the portrayal of Ben in the film unappealing, particularly in a scene where he acts foolishly. Additionally, my research revealed no credible evidence or reports supporting the actions of Ben's character as depicted in the movie.

-To be honest, I shed a few tears while watching the ending, but they were tears of joy. I appreciated that just before the credits rolled, we were treated to real-life footage of Jessica living on her boat as she pursued her dream of traveling around the world, which loosely inspired this movie.

I rate each Movie I watch out of 10 and for this one, I give it an 6 Remember this was what I thought about the film personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.

I get that the budget for this film was obviously not huge and you can clearly see that in the CGI and in some of the acting. But I feel that the story is so strong and interesting that it overrides all those factors and makes it a film worth watching.

I was fascinated from beginning to end.

Teagan Croft as Jessica Watson was no doubt the best performer in the whole film. She even out shone Anna Paquin who was very flat in this film. She felt very out of place and didn't seem to give it any ounce of energy.

If you can focus on the story and put everything else aside, this is a very enjoyable film.

Years ago I read "Sailing Alone Around the World" by Joshua Slocum and I have been a solo Cape Horn groupie ever since. There were some great books including Naomi James engrossing "At One with the Sea." At the start the success rate of solo round the Horn was about 50%. It has improved with technology and weather data but is still a risky exciting enterprise. The sailors all seemed a little bit odd, I felt a kindred spirit. Cf "Voyage for Madmen", also filmed. So, I bussed down with my nearly 10 year old granddaughter to see "True Spirit" when it opened at Maroochydore.

At the time of her voyage, I had wondered if there was some pressure on the sailor for the trip, but the more I saw of her the more she seemed to be a determined independent young lady who had her own ideas. I have been steadily impressed with her. She is not seen chasing 'celebrity'. I was however a little apprehensive about the film, as there were no reviews, - this could be one of those over-earnest paeans that the Antipodes can do. The granddaughter is a hard critic. Well, she liked it and watched earnestly right through. It does have a bit of an old-fashioned feel to it. No slaughtering superheroes or flying hedgehogs. I am glad I took her to see it.

I thought it wasn't bad, with reservations. The storm scenes/CGI were a little unreal. (like in 'Perfect Storm' - graphically spectacular, but distracting) This detached me from the drama. And the general sailing was less absorbing than it might have been, though I know solo sailing isn't all excitement, it can be done. Apart from the 'over the top storms' the photography was good. The sea is a good act to watch.

The dialogue often tends to be formulaic and occasionally cloying. Shame; a lot is good. Teagan Croft is excellent as Jess, she seemed to be the character. Cliff Curtis was great as the mentor Ben Bryant. Anna Paquin good as ever and generally the actors were fine. Some things I vaguely remember from the time, such as the flyover by the parents (-must have been emotional.) and the wait before the Horn, were barely dealt with but excusable in the name of good editing. At 106 minutes it was about right. Actual footage of Jessica at the end was quite moving.

Sarah Spillane has avoided over adulation. There are some script failings but still very watchable reproduction of Jessica's exploits. The determination and achievement of the young sailor were recognised in the film and anchored it.