Once Upon a Comeback

The Original Mermaid

2002 · ★ 9

Story of Annette Kellerman, the international swimming vaudeville and silent screen star whose life story inspired the MGM classic Million Dollar Mermaid starring Esther Williams, which featured lavish Busby Berkeley scenes.

Crossing the Channel

2018

With no wet-suit, no breaks, or physical support, Rachel Horn swims the Santa Barbara Channel to help the Special Olympics.

The Pool

2024 · ★ 8

Bondi Icebergs is the most photographed pool in the world. This is where generations of children have learnt to swim, where the diehard have braved the frigid waters of one hundred winters, where the young and beautiful have come to bond and bake in the hot sun. THE POOL is a stunning cinematic experience with a soundtrack that harks back to the 1960s and a cast of characters who each have a story to tell. It speaks to the enduring power of community and our collective longing to find it. No matter your background or where you’re at – everyone is equal in their swimsuits.

FLOAT!

2023 · ★ 7

With depth, intimacy, and humor, FLOAT! captures filmmaker Azza Cohen's magnetic grandma’s life-affirming journey learning to swim at 82, inspiring audiences to defy societal expectations of aging and to boldly look forward at every stage.

El Club

2009

A sensual portrait of an urban community that explores human desires, ambitions and fragility through the daily activities of a swimming club.

Aqua Babes

1956 · ★ 6.7

This short subject shows Lissa Bengston teaching a group of three- and four-year-olds how to swim in a pool. Miss Bengston, a member of the Royal Academy of Physical Education, Stockholm, Sweden, believes that at this age, children have no fear of the water and, therefore, can be taught to use their natural abilities to swim.

The Crawl

2005 · ★ 8

A visual and delicately poetic story about the relationship between a swimmer and water. A young competitive swimmer meets the world's fastest woman swimmer in her dreams and races her.

Veljko of the Sea

2024 · ★ 9

Documentary film about the sports life of Croatian swimming icon Veljko Rogošić.

The Grand Swim

The documentary chronicling Oly Rush's world record attempt to swim non-stop around Grand Cayman. All in the name of raising awareness for plastic pollution.

To the Sea

2010 · ★ 6.8

Before leaving for Rome with his mother, five year old Natan is taken by his father, Jorge, on an epic journey to the pristine Chinchorro reef off the coast of Mexico. As they fish, swim, and sail the turquoise waters of the open sea, Natan discovers the beauty of his Mayan heritage and learns to live in harmony with life above and below the surface, as the bond between father and son grows stronger before their inevitable farewell.

Touch the Wall

2014 · ★ 8

Swimming superstar Missy Franklin was destined for greatness at an early age, but it wasn't until the arrival of Veteran Kara Lynn Joyce that those sky-high expectations began to take shape.

Venetian Shores

1914

Blissful scenes of tourists arriving by boat and then sea bathing on a beach in the Venetian lagoon.