Directed by: Mysterex
Written by: Mysterex, Frank Awuah
Starring: Tyra Ifill, Javell Grant
Runtime: 1 hr 45 min
Available digitally July 4

by Stacey Osbeck, Staff Writer

Directed by Mysterex, Blacks Can’t Swim Rewind is the third in a series of feature documentaries regarding the underrepresentation of Black people and people of Indian and Caribbean descent in aquatic activities across the UK.

It’s marketed as a documentary and before the opening a disclaimer reads that none of the cast in the storylines are professional actors. These two characters, Tyra (Tyra Ifill) and Javell (Javell Grant), it appears were given loose material to ad lib. Their story arcs are planned out and span the whole film. Although not occurring in real time before the cameras, they are meant to exemplify parts of a bigger picture.

Tyra has a mother and father in the household, upper middle-class. These parents have poured a great deal of money, and from Mom at least an emotional investment, into their daughter’s future in swim. Tyra, feels she’s outgrown her interest in the sport and, being a teen, becomes more attentive to her social life and looks. Swimming is damaging her hair.

Javell lives in a single parent home. His mother works as a cleaning lady and wants him to get serious about a real job. After seeing a recruitment poster he applies for the Royal Maries Commando to get his life in order and make his mother proud. But the interview is over before it begins. Javell can’t swim. Marines need to be able bodied in water.

Both their stories are interspersed with interviews engaging people of African, Caribbean or Indian descent in the UK about how in many cases there is not a culture surrounding swimming.

One of the more distressing stigmas that earlier generations had to contend with was that of Blacks having dense bones. With the fear that their bones were heavier and would sink them to the bottom many never stepped in the water.

‘Anxiety’ kept being touched on and I wish more pointed questions were asked about this. Is it a nervousness that they won’t swim well and will feel foolish flopping around in front of their peers or is it a gripping fear or drowning?

It struck me as odd that the filmmakers didn’t interview anyone who lost a loved one to drowning. The focus seemed to be enjoying swimming as a pleasurable activity. Working it in to a fun pastime can definitely help anyone keep it up. But I found it curious that swimming wasn’t given the life or death weight it deserves.

I also questioned why the narratives were set in the cold months with people wearing heavy coats. I don’t particularly love swimming but love to cool off on a hot summer day. Fishing, boating, all tend to happen during warmer weather. Why not set the storylines when there are several motivators to getting in the water?

Again, this is the third in a series and maybe others occurred during beach season. Maybe the filmmakers leaned into the topic of drowning on past installments and chose to focus on other aspects this time. Blacks Can’t Swim Rewind has a strong message though about how swimming is not a part of Black culture in the UK and it needs to be. Interviewees at times referenced earlier moments in the series and how it got them talking. With that clearly the filmmakers already accomplished a great deal in opening up dialogue and motivating change.