If you are interested in swimming or if you are a Canadian, you will like this movie. It tells the real-life story of Marilyn Bell, an underdog swimmer who outswam the more-favoured Florence Chadwick during the first swim ever across Lake Ontario. Caroline Dhavernas who plays the title role is cute and lovable as the sixteen-year old Marilyn Bell. The Toronto of the middle twentieth century depicted in this movie looks authentic and the automobiles from that bygone age add a nostalgic flavour to this film. Except for Marilyn Bell, the characters in this flick are not likeable. It seems that the stuck-up American prima donna Florence Chadwick, Marilyn's pushy swimming coach who initially has a contempt for her, the buffoonish Toronto Star reporters are there in the film only to provide contrasts to the title character. Such portrayals appear rather unnatural. Otherwise, this is a well-made film.
Review of Heart: The Marilyn Bell Story
