Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence is foreshadowed in Chilean drama; nudity, smoking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Swim to Me
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Estela (Maria Paz Grandjean) is a live-in maid for a wealthy couple and caretaker of their daughter Julia (Rosa Pugna Vittini) in SWIM TO ME. Julia is a precocious girl who seems used to getting her way, including in not learning how to swim. She and Estela spend lazy days together, playing make-believe and talking. Julia's parents refuse to let Estela go home when her mother has to get an emergency surgery. Meanwhile, Estela embarks on a new relationship with gas station attendant Carlos (Rodrigo Palacios).
Is It Any Good?
With moments of heartfelt drama and glimpses of artistic visual storytelling, this Chilean film is worthwhile, but there are also more moving class-based tales, including from Latin America. Swim to Me starts, like Roma before it, as a tale of a caretaker's uneven relationship with the family she works for, especially one child. Its combination of everyday activities and foreboding moments instill a sense of discomfort that becomes increasingly warranted as events unfold. An unsettling score, punctuated by local pop songs, underscores the tonal mix, while a naturalistic style infuses a sense of realism.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Swim To Me uses foreshadowing to create a sense of dread.
Do you think viewers are supposed to empathize with Estela? Why or why not?
Could this film be set somewhere other than Chile? What might change and what might stay the same? Explain.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 10, 2025
- Cast : Maria Paz Grandjean , Rosa Pugna Vittini , Rodrigo Palacios
- Director : Domingo Sotomayor
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Latino Movie Director(s) , South American Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , South American Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 16, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate