In 1950s Brisbane, Australia, Tony Fingleton (
Jesse Spencer) beats the odds to become a champion swimmer in spite of his overbearing, alcoholic father (
Geoffrey Rush) and long-suffering but quietly heroic mother (
Judy Davis). Overshadowed in his father's eyes by his brothers, it's only when Tony displays an extraordinary swimming talent that he feels he has a shot at winning his father's heart -- and maybe even Olympic gold.
Based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Fingleton.