OndineSome myths draw inspiration from reality, and sometimes it's the other way around. Ondine is a romantic drama about a fisherman named Syracuse (Colin Ferrell), who pulls in a beautiful woman (Alicja Bachleda) in his trawling net aboard his fishing boat. Claiming to have no memory, she calls herself "Ondine", and insists that she doesn't want to see anyone else but him. Concerned for her safety, Syracuse lets her stay in his late mother's cottage, where he has been living since separating from his alcoholic wife, Maura (Dervla Kirwan). While taking their daughter, Annie (Alison Barry), for dialysis treatment, Syracuse tells her a story about a fisherman who pulled a woman from the sea, and Annie concludes that the woman must be a "selkie", a mermaid-like water spirit of Celtic origin.
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Written and directed by Neil Jordan, Ondine is set in a rural coastal town in Ireland. The film transports the audience to this small community, where it appears that everyone knows everyone. Syracuse's reputation precedes him as a recovering alcoholic himself. People have become accustomed to calling him "Circus", both as a play on his name and to represent that when he was drinking, he often made a fool of himself. Syracuse claims that he became sober to better care for his daughter, which in turn alienated him from his wife. He does the best to make a life for himself at fishing, but it's obvious that this community is just above the edge of poverty. When Syracuse discovers that Ondine has been wearing his mother's clothes, he goes out to buy a nice dress for her...while stealing some undergarments for her in the process. He tells his priest (Stephen Rea) that this is because he didn't want anyone to see him buying anything like that because gossip would spread. I think it's also true that he's struggling to buy the dress in the first place, though. This makes Ondine's "contributions" to his fishing expeditions so much more important; she seems to be a lucky charm. In two separate instances, she sings and he catches fish and lobsters to an extent greater than he should have been able to do. The movie frequently toys with the idea that Ondine is a selkie, but deftly avoids committing until the end. Much of this comes by way of Annie, who expounds at length about the story of the selkie to Ondine when they first meet. Ondine humors Annie, and they even do things together like "burying her seal coat", something Annie's no doubt motivated to do because it suggests that Ondine will end up staying with her father if she does. Meanwhile, Syracuse struggles with his increasing attraction to Ondine, perhaps still a bit gun shy following his disintegrated marriage, hoping that the same thing doesn't happen with her.
Ondine is a refreshing romance, yet a bit mixed with inconsistent direction and story. At times, the small fishing village feels authentic and natural, much like Syracuse's fisherman's garb. At others, it feels forced to fit the story...ironically a bit like Syracuse's everyday wear. With his black leather jacket and flowing locks, he looks a bit too much like a romance novel cover. Much of this is diffused by Ferrell's nuanced performance; he's right at home in this role. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that he and Bachleda had a relationship following this film, as their chemistry is very convincing and authentic. There's a comical moment where Ondine is steering his fishing boat with her leg, and Syracuse catches sight of it, and pulls on his collar a bit, signifying his arousal. At other moments, however, it can be really confusing what's happening, such as during a fateful car crash or during the climactic conclusion, where the movie is so jarring and vague that you will spend too much time trying to figure out what's going on rather than its implications. There's a bit of mystery to Ondine, which starts to come into full once a mystery man (Emil Hostina) shows up, whom it is implied is someone from Ondine's past, perhaps her "husband". Or when a miracle happens following a tragedy, suggesting that Ondine may very well be a magical spirit, as it calls back to an earlier "wish". Ultimately, these moments move the plot forward, but Ondine is at its best when it is exploring the blossoming relationship between Syracuse and Ondine, which feels like a more serious take on the likes of Splash. These moments of heartache and affection set against the blue collar backdrop of the Irish fishing village surrounded by gorgeous green hills is the primary lure for the film.
Recommended for: Fans of an enigmatic romance about a woman who may (or may not) be a water spirit, and the complications that arise when she is thrust into a foreign civilization and a new romance. Ondine may be occasionally jumbled and confusing--the rich Irish accents don't help for those unaccustomed to hearing it, either--but it is a lovely film with a sweet message about forgiveness and acceptance. (And dare I say: a "fish out of water" story, too? Apologies...)
Ondine is a refreshing romance, yet a bit mixed with inconsistent direction and story. At times, the small fishing village feels authentic and natural, much like Syracuse's fisherman's garb. At others, it feels forced to fit the story...ironically a bit like Syracuse's everyday wear. With his black leather jacket and flowing locks, he looks a bit too much like a romance novel cover. Much of this is diffused by Ferrell's nuanced performance; he's right at home in this role. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that he and Bachleda had a relationship following this film, as their chemistry is very convincing and authentic. There's a comical moment where Ondine is steering his fishing boat with her leg, and Syracuse catches sight of it, and pulls on his collar a bit, signifying his arousal. At other moments, however, it can be really confusing what's happening, such as during a fateful car crash or during the climactic conclusion, where the movie is so jarring and vague that you will spend too much time trying to figure out what's going on rather than its implications. There's a bit of mystery to Ondine, which starts to come into full once a mystery man (Emil Hostina) shows up, whom it is implied is someone from Ondine's past, perhaps her "husband". Or when a miracle happens following a tragedy, suggesting that Ondine may very well be a magical spirit, as it calls back to an earlier "wish". Ultimately, these moments move the plot forward, but Ondine is at its best when it is exploring the blossoming relationship between Syracuse and Ondine, which feels like a more serious take on the likes of Splash. These moments of heartache and affection set against the blue collar backdrop of the Irish fishing village surrounded by gorgeous green hills is the primary lure for the film.
Recommended for: Fans of an enigmatic romance about a woman who may (or may not) be a water spirit, and the complications that arise when she is thrust into a foreign civilization and a new romance. Ondine may be occasionally jumbled and confusing--the rich Irish accents don't help for those unaccustomed to hearing it, either--but it is a lovely film with a sweet message about forgiveness and acceptance. (And dare I say: a "fish out of water" story, too? Apologies...)