--- title: "Maiden: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/maiden/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/maiden" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Maiden (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 14 reviews: 12 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find Maiden an absorbing, stirring documentary whose appeal extends beyond sailing enthusiasts. Praise centres on the archival footage, particularly the crew’s own material, which gives the race an immediacy and danger that the editing sustains. The candid interviews also draw consistent approval, bringing out the women’s personalities and the effort behind their achievement. The reviews generally welcome the way the film connects the voyage’s practical challenges with the sexism the sailors face. Reservations concern what the brisk storytelling leaves unexplored, rather than its ability to hold attention. Several critics want more biographical context for Tracy Edwards or fuller accounts of the crew. Slant Magazine offers the clearest dissent, finding an inspiring story frustratingly simplistic and short on camaraderie. The Guardian wants greater clarity about Edwards’s views on feminism. The spread is largely positive, with disagreement over how much the omissions matter. ## Empire — David Parkinson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 March 2019. The review praises the documentary as an inspiring and riveting account of a remarkable achievement. It singles out the precision and potency of the archival footage and editing. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/maiden-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 88/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2019. Turan calls the documentary a heartening, thrilling story of grit and determination. He particularly praises its assembled archival footage and candid interviews with the skipper and crew. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-maiden-documentary-review-20190626-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Caryn James Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2019. James finds the documentary gripping, suspenseful and socially resonant, calling it a rousing feminist adventure. She especially praises the crew’s firsthand footage of the dangerous race, while noting that the film leaves gaps about Edwards’s sailing expertise and the crew’s later lives. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/maiden-review-1174695/) ## Variety — Dennis Harvey Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 September 2018. Festival review. Harvey finds the documentary exciting and inspiring, with enough human drama to engage viewers beyond sailing fans. He especially praises the vivid archival footage and the suspenseful pacing of the onboard material. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/maiden-review-1202946445/) ## Little White Lies — Josh Slater-Williams Rating 3/4/3. 8 March 2019. The review finds the documentary exciting and inspiring, though its breakneck pace leaves gaps in biographical context. It praises the evocative archive footage and lively editing, which make the voyage compelling moment to moment. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/maiden) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 8 March 2019. The review finds the documentary inspiring and deftly balanced. It praises how the film pairs the crew’s adventure with the sexism they faced. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/maiden) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating B. 14 September 2018. Festival review. Erbland finds the documentary satisfying and timely, while noting it leaves important parts of Tracy Edwards’ life unexplored. She praises the vivid crew interviews and the race’s surprising, suspenseful turns. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/maiden-review-feminist-sailing-documentary-tiff-1202003644/) ## The AV Club — Allison Shoemaker Rating B. 26 June 2019. Shoemaker finds the documentary an engrossing, quietly inspirational underdog story that avoids heavy-handedness. She praises the lively candor of the women whose recollections make the past feel present. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/maiden-brings-to-life-a-true-story-of-round-the-world-m-1835865343) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 2019. Bradshaw finds the documentary a fitting homage to Tracy Edwards, while noting it could have explored her views on feminism more clearly. He praises Edwards’s courage and leadership in assembling the crew and securing sponsorship. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/06/maiden-review-tracy-edwards-sailing-alex-holmes) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2019. The article is identifiable as a review, but its verdict cannot be verified. The blocked page provides no accessible details about what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/26/movies/maiden-review.html) ## Slant Magazine — Wes Greene Rating 2/4. 24 June 2019. Greene finds the documentary inspiring but frustratingly simplistic. He praises the candid archival footage while faulting the film for skimping on the crew’s roles and camaraderie. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-though-inspiring-maiden-doesnt-evince-the-daring-of-its-subjects/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 88/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2019. Robertson finds the documentary stirring and brilliantly told. He especially praises its archive footage for conveying life aboard and the unfolding drama of the race. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/maiden-2018-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2019. The critic finds the documentary riveting and emotionally moving, with a story that remains relevant. They especially praise Holmes’s weaving of crew interviews and archival footage to convey the voyage and the sexism the sailors faced. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/maiden-film-review-2019-documentary-sailing-tracy-edwards/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B+. 28 June 2019. Festival review. Goldberg calls the documentary a crowd-pleasing, inspiring story that makes its predictable structure easy to forgive. He especially praises its honest portrayal of Tracy Edwards, including her flaws and the hard work behind the crew’s achievement. [Read the review](https://collider.com/maiden-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/maiden.md