J’AIME MARCH/APRIL 2024

months, so it took three
consecutive years to get
everything we needed.
The weather wasn’t great
in a couple of those years
so we missed a whole
month here and there.
It was tough, but people
were great about keeping
their schedule’s free so we
could pick up - COVID
actually helped with that
because no-one was going
on holiday!”
But Vindication Swim’s filming schedule started just
before COVID forced the country into a shutdown
- meaning production was a stop-start process,
shutting down three times with various lockdowns
and setting production back by around a year.
“It was a challenging film for many reasons,” says
Elliott. “It’s an independent film so everything was
done on a budget, we didn’t spend much money
but needed to still do everything in the best way to
honour Mercedes and her incredible achievements.”
One of Mercedes’ standout achievements in the
Midlands took place between July 18 and 19, 1930,
when she completed a mammoth 39-hour endurance
swim at Wolverhampton’s Municipal Baths,
witnessed by more than 5,000 people.
“Spectators came in and lined the poolside just to
watch Mercedes swim for hours and hours,” says
Elliott.
“It was great to bring Mercedes back to the areas
VINDICATION SWIM IS IN
CINEMAS NOW
ACTORS KIRSTEN CALLAGHAN
AND JOHN LOCKE
she swam in nearly a century ago. We had a lot of
support from all of the locations we filmed in; we
did some scenes in Aston at the university swimming
pool, which is a lovely pool so it looks amazing in the
film.
“We also filmed at the Black Country Living
Museum and they were so great there; it’s a fantastic
location - they use it in Peaky Blinders, so it was a
great place to film. You’re immediately immersed
in the 1920s and that world, so once you fill it with
all the extras it’s so cool, it looks like you’ve stepped
back in time. As a director watching it through the
viewfinder it was a really cool experience.
“We filmed all of our scenes there in one day, and
there were about ten scenes to film, so it was a long
day but it was definitely a highlight of the shoot.”
Following her Channel feat, Mercedes also became
the first person to complete many other incredible
swims around the world, including the Straits of
Gibraltar, the Dardanelles and the distance between
Robben Island and Cape Town.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day,
Vindication Swim serves as a poignant reminder of
the indomitable spirit of a woman who dared to
dream beyond the confines of her era.
The film’s release will be accompanied by a Q and
A tour by Elliott and key cast members, which
invites Midlands audiences to pay homage to a
local connection that shaped Gleitze’s remarkable
legacy. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a
sports fan, or simply someone seeking inspiration,
Vindication Swim promises a cinematic experience
that celebrates not only the achievements of
Mercedes Gleitze, but also the collective strength and
determination of women who have left an indelible
mark on our world.
Vindication Swim is in cinemas nationwide
now. For more details visit
www.vindicationswimfilm.com
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