Wow, this movie is old. I know. It was made in 2009, and I was shocked to learn that, as I just caught wind of this film as a whole lotta patrons seemingly had, and it kept passing across our library desk. It caught my eye of course, as I love the Irish setting and fairy tale vibe in many other similar movies, (think Secret of Roan Inish, or Once.) It may have been out there for the last two years, but chances are you haven't seen it yet. I of course, recommend that you do!
Colin Farrell is Syracuse, or Circus, as he is nicknamed for a wild past of drinking and making a fool of himself. He has a sweet, yet feisty daughter whom he loves and cares for deeply, all the more because of her fragile health due to kidney failure. We see a deep longing in Syracuse every time we see him with his daughter, as she lives with her mother; an ex-wife, and this is a source of ongoing strain among the three of them. Just as Syracuse has been sober for years, his ex-wife is still prone to late nights of carousing, and so he lives alone, in a shack by the sea once owned by his late mother.
Our story begins with Syracuse in his trawler, out fishing off the shore as is his trade, when he pulls up with his net a beautiful young woman, very confused and frightened.
After initially insisting she not be seen by anyone, and acting very skittish, she tells Syracuse her name is Ondine, and it becomes very clear that there is something very peculiar and otherworldly about this girl. Well played by Alicja Bachleda, Ondine is both innocent and very wise, charming Syracuse with her singing and not to mention her incredible sex appeal.
Syracuse takes this mystery of the girl from the water to his daughter, Annie, who concludes she is a selkie. This theory weaves its own reality, and Ondine never confirms or denies the claim that she is no ordinary woman, but a seal who has lost her pelt and cannot return to the sea until she has lived with a man on land for 7 years.
I think what I like best about this movie is the subtlety and uncertainty over exactly what the truth is. Much credit in this is due to director Neil Jordan, who always exhibits complete mastery over the atmosphere of his films, and whom I have been a fan of since Interview with the Vampire. Neil Jordan has woven the richness of a fairy tale romance with the drama of a modern day one, and the combination gets my thumbs up.
Now if your ears are a bit slow to tune to the frequency of a sing-songy Cork accent, this film may need some subtitles from your DVD player. It's rated PG-13 for sexuality and strong language, but mature children could, in my opinion, enjoy this film alongide adults. The end of this movie is a happy one, though there are some dark twists right before it! I hope you'll seek it out and find it as pleasant a surprise as I did.
8/10 - Dani
