Ondine

[Beate]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235796/

ONDINE is the story of Syracuse (Colin Farrell), a simple fisherman who catches a beautiful and mysterious woman (Alicja Bachleda) in his trawler’s nets. The woman seems to be dead, but then she comes alive before Syracuse’s eyes and he thinks he may be seeing things. However, with the help of his ailing, yet irrepressible daughter, Annie, he comes to believe that the fantastical might be possible and that the woman (Ondine) might be a myth come true. Ondine and Syracuse fall passionately in love, but just as we think the fairytale might go on forever, the real world intercedes. Then, after a terrible car crash and the return of a dark and violent figure from Ondine’s past, hope eventually prevails and a new beginning is presented to Syracuse, Ondine and Annie.

http://www.paramountpictures.co.uk/ondine/

[Beate]

A strangely compelling film with Colin Farrell as a dry alcoholic divorced Irish fisherman with an ill but wise for her years young daughter. He finds a barely alive woman in his net one day (who looks a lot like Milla Jovovich) and gives her a place to stay. His daughter is convinced she is a "selk" (I think that's the word), a seal woman who came from the sea, lost her sealskin and will have to stay on land for 7 years, shed 7 tears and find happiness with a "landsman", if her seal husband does not come to claim her. And as strange as it sounds but I was absolutely becoming convinced that's what she was.
"The truth is not what you know. It's what you believe."

Really liked it so giving it 7.5/10 although I don't see it making much at the box office somehow.

[superhero]

The storyline doesn't sound similar to the Ondine ballet....

[Beate]

No, it's playing with the mythology of Ondine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondine_(mythology)

but is ultimately a modern take.

[Beate]

Oh lovely, Matt Turner likes it as well!

http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/ondin ... ewsletters

The ViewLondon Review

Review by Matthew Turner
03/03/2010
Opens Friday 05 March 2010

Four out of Five stars
Running time: 111 mins

Impressively directed and beautifully written, this is an emotionally engaging love story with a terrific central performance from Colin Farrell.

What's it all about?
Written and directed by Neil Jordan, Ondine stars Colin Farrell as divorced fisherman Syracuse, who's devoted to his disabled daughter Annie (Alison Barry) and concerned about whether his alcoholic ex-wife Maura (Dervla Kirwan) is capable of looking after her. One day, Syracuse finds a beautiful woman (Alicja Bachleda) in his fishing net with no memory of who she is, so he names her Ondine and takes her home to look after her.

When Ondine appears to bring Syracuse good luck, Annie becomes convinced that she's a mermaid or, more accurately, a mythical sea creature known as a selkie. Before long, Syracuse and Ondine fall in love, but the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Emil Hostina) threatens their happiness – is he her sea-husband come to claim her, or is there a more earthly explanation?

The Good
Colin Farrell is simply terrific as Syracuse, delivering an emotionally engaging performance that radiates warmth and compassion. He also has genuine chemistry with the gorgeous Bachleda (both onscreen and off – they got together during filming and have just had a child together) and both actors have a natural rapport with Barry, who stays just the right side of the precocious kid stereotype.

There's also powerful support from Dervla Kirwan, who brings a raw intensity to her scenes with Farrell, while Stephen Rea provides reliable comic relief as Syracuse's increasingly incredulous priest. In addition, Tony Curran is superb as Maura's new partner Alex, a role that could easily have been underwritten or cliched – his scenes with Barry are all the more effective for being quietly understated.

The Great
The script is excellent, maintaining exactly the right balance between fantasy and reality throughout, though it slightly overdoes it at the end with an unnecessary flashback. The film is also beautifully shot, with Christopher Doyle's photography making strong use of the rugged coastal locations.

Worth seeing?
Ondine is an enjoyable, emotionally engaging and utterly charming love story with a superb script and terrific performances from Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda. Highly recommended.

[superhero]

Aww okay, I wasn't familiar with that

No, it's playing with the mythology of Ondine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondine_(mythology)

but is ultimately a modern take.

[andrews]

A group of us went to see this yesterday, and there's little I can add to Matt Turner's review. At first, I found it a little slow, but felt myself being drawn into the gentle love story. Colin Farrell was excellent in the role of Syracuse, and Alicja Bachleda was good too. The sound seemed very quiet at times in the cinema, and I struggled to hear what she was saying. I wish I could swim as well as she can!

I tend to agree with Beate, though - I can't see it making much at the box office, either.

A lovely way to pass a few hours - 7/10 from me.