In 2013, Maya Gabeira narrowly escaped death. While surfing off the coast of Nazareth, Portugal, where the biggest waves on the planet hit, Maya lost her balance, lost consciousness, and nearly drowned.

Soon after regaining consciousness, however, she decided to keep going. She spent years rehabbing, including three spinal surgeries, and consistent and rigorous training to regain perfect conditions; in 2018, she returned to Nazareth and set a record for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman.

Maya's story of perseverance is movingly captured in the new documentary Maya and the Wave by Stephanie Jones, which I am proud to have been an executive producer of. And now, as a long and difficult year for women in particular draws to a close, Maya's story takes on new resonance for me.

After all, many women feel beaten down. We are burnt out from our work in record numbers. Our reproductive rights are under constant attack. And after the election, many black women in particular chose to step back from engaging with a political and cultural climate that seemed to have rejected us.

But as much as I want to give in to cynicism, I keep coming back to Maya and the Wave and feeling a sense of hope. It is time to think about the barriers Maya overcame to live her story and the barriers Stephanie overcame to have that story heard.

Just thinking about the physical obstacles Maya had to overcome is inspiring enough. But overcoming the 68-foot wave was far from the end of her battle for recognition. Next up was discrimination against women.

For a big wave surfing feat to be recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records, it must be validated by the World Surf League. And Maya's breakthrough was supposed to be the first female record to be recognized in that category. But the WSL ignored her overtures for months. It was not until Maya submitted a petition with tens of thousands of signatures that her feat was finally officially recorded, eight months after the record was set.

Meanwhile, Maya and the wave itself embarked on their own journey of recognition. Stephanie followed Maya's struggles and triumphs for more than a decade, slowly and methodically piecing together the film, demonstrating her own discipline.

When the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022, audiences were enthusiastic and the film was a runner-up for the festival's coveted People's Choice Documentary Award, making a big splash.

But then came the eerie parallels with Maya's story. Despite its long ordeal and objectively great accomplishment, “Maya and the Waves” did not receive the recognition it was subsequently expected to receive. TIFF has no distributor.

But like Maya, Stephanie has not given up; two years later, she has self-produced “Maya and the Waves” and is fighting to bring the story to as wide an audience as possible by touring the world with film festivals and screenings.

And it is not a moment too soon. We are living through a renaissance of cynicism. Americans have deep doubts about our future, and rates of depression are higher than ever. Is it mere coincidence that record numbers of people are turning to the movies at a time when millions are seeking escape?

The desire for positive, inspirational stories is clear now. Maya and the Waves is such a story, and such a story it is. [25] [26] Maya and Stephanie is a powerful reminder that women, and anyone who has ever struggled to achieve and be recognized for their dreams, can overcome extraordinary odds if they stay focused and never give up.

But to truly emulate them, you must be willing to accept that there will be times when you feel you have not made any progress at all for months or even years. There will be moments when you have to be your own best advocate.

And when faced with high waves and uncharted waters, the only way out may be through.