Rising star and University of Exeter alumnus, Elliott Hasler (History, 2021) has become the first writer and director born this century (2000) to debut in the Cannes Film Festival with his new British-cult film, Vindication Swim. We dove into the inspiration behind his award-winning biopic of Mercedes Gleitze, a pioneer in the world of open-water swimming, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel.
As a working-class, unmarried typist, Gleitze self-funded all her swims, and it took her eight attempts to conquer the English Channel. Elliott shares: “It was our aim to really submerge the audience into the waters of the English Channel, and in that way hope to pay homage to the spirit of this incredible woman.”
We wanted to know more about Elliott’s achievements and inspiration behind this incredible journey and how it poetically mirrored Mercedes’: a love affair with film vs a love affair with the water.
Speaking about how he came to make this film Elliott says: “Having grown up on the coast I’ve always felt a very strong connection to the water. So, when I stumbled across the story of Mercedes Gleitze, I instantly fell in love with her remarkable story, and my interest was really piqued by the challenge of filming out in the English Channel. I discovered that Gleitze and I both share the same hometown of Brighton and were born exactly a century apart, (her in 1900 and myself in 2000), which made me feel incredibly connected to her right from the outset.”
What really sets this film apart is a careful intention and the real stylistic techniques used to capture the struggles of swimming the channel; a feat that to date 4,133 people can relate to, thanks to people like Mercedes. Elliott explained more about the methods that were used to achieve this: “Everything you see on screen is real, all shot without the use of tanks, green screens or body doubles, and all swimming scenes were shot in the English Channel. I wanted audiences to feel as if they are swimming right alongside Mercedes.”
Elliott is now a firm inspiration in the world of film through having the rare ability to tell the intricate story of true inspiration in a going-against-all-odds fashion. When we asked him what he’d like audiences to take away from the film he said: “Simply to be inspired. What Mercedes achieved, not just with the Channel but also her other swims around the world, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, Robben Island to Cape Town and the Dardanelles, where she was the first ever person to complete such swims, is truly extraordinary. Yet at the heart of it, Mercedes herself was an ordinary, working-class woman who, with sheer grit, determination and perseverance went out and achieved her dreams, which is something that is truly inspiring whether you’re in the 1920s or 2020s.”
For an independent film, what Vindication Swim has achieved, playing in more than 300 cinemas and breaking top 20 at the box office, is extraordinary. Displaying his own determination and truly riding the wave of his Cannes Festival debut Elliott lets us know what’s next for the film and his future in film.
He says: “The reception has been fantastic and way beyond what I expected when I first began work on the film. I think it just shows the power of Mercedes’ story and its propensity for connecting with people. I’m currently out in Los Angeles where the debut US screening of ‘Vindication Swim’ is taking place and it’s really been all systems go since the UK release in March. But I do hope to take stock and celebrate when I have some time later this year.”
Ever proud of our alumni, we wondered how his time at Exeter impacted his career in film. Elliott shares: “I wrote the bulk of the screenplay while at Exeter and I think my time there studying history was very helpful given this is a historical, true story. I was able to put my studies to use in crafting a story for the screen, whilst retaining the historical authenticity of Mercedes’ world in 1927. Funnily enough Exeter sent me a copy of Bill Bryson’s ‘One Summer: America 1927’, when I was first accepted on the programme in 2018, which mentions Mercedes and her English Chanel swim. So, I suppose one could credit Exeter with bringing Mercedes to my attention in the first place!”
We are honoured to be able to spotlight Elliott and his achievements and wish him ongoing success with his new venture. His next project has been co-written with Kirsten Callaghan who plays Mercedes in Vindication Swim. This one will be a true crime thriller set on the south coast of England in the 1930s. Elliot shares: “it’s going to be a much darker turn for my next outing, but one that keeps that historic setting. We’re currently pitching the story out and hope to begin shooting next year.”
We can’t wait to see what’s next from alumnus Elliott in the years ahead: consider us inspired!
You can view the trailer for ‘Vindication Swim’ now on YouTube, find out more about the film online, and watch the full film on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, or Sky.