Mercedes Glitz: a film about the first British woman to swim the Channel

A film has been released to celebrate the life of Mercedes Gleitz, from Brighton, the first British woman to swim the English Channel.

Vindication Swim was released in theaters on March 8, International Women's Day.

Mrs. Gleitz, who was working as a clerk, made her eighth official crossing attempt on October 7, 1927, in 15 hours and 15 minutes.

Writer-director Elliot Hassler said she was “an amazing woman, and a woman who should never be lost to history.”

Besides channel swimming, Ms Gleitz has completed numerous endurance swims, including becoming the first woman to swim the Strait of Gibraltar.

“She was a working-class woman (with) an ordinary background,” Mr Hassler said.

“She had these dreams and she didn’t give up on them.”

The writer said he wanted to honor that in the film by “doing everything for real.”

“We shot in the English Channel two miles from where Mercedes was swimming by herself,” Mr. Hassler explained.

Kirsten Callahan, who plays Mrs. Glitz, rehearsed for several months before the film and did not use any doubles.

Actor John Locke, who plays Mrs. Glitz's coach, Harold, became severely seasick during filming, Mr. Hassler said.

“He was vomiting over the boat on one side, and delivering his lines to the camera on the other side,” Mr. Hassler explained.

But it was Ms. Glitz's perseverance that inspired everyone on the project to keep going, Mr. Hassler said.

The writer said he hoped people would learn from Ms. Glitz's story “not to be frightened by anything” and to “never give up on their dream.”