Ondine

A fantasy (though unfortunately not fantastic) romantic film with a very particular atmosphere, something between a gloomy Nordic drama and a mystical fairytale. I’m not a great fan of fairytales, but Ondine captivated me in a particular way, right from the first scene, and for the rest of the film I had no problem believing in mermaids, water nymphs, water sprites, and other fairytale creatures, and I was almost sad that it ends the way it does. But well, back to reality; it was a nice trip, though. (2010-09-01)

I’m still wondering why I didn’t give Ondine five stars the first time around. It truly deserves it in every way. The breathtaking Irish landscape, the weight of life in Ireland, and this light, whimsical story drifting through it all. Ondine washes ashore, and from there, the film hovers between fantasy and an almost unbelievable reality. Maybe that’s what held me back—the uncertainty of whether I was watching a fairy tale or just a remarkable story. But then there’s the perfect mood set by Sigur Rós’ hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, which matches the film’s melancholic and atmospheric vibe flawlessly. That alone felt like a huge win for me. Now that I think about it while writing this, I’m bumping it up to five stars. This film is unique, original, and the director made perfect use of a soundtrack that feels meant for a film like this. In the end, Ondine is a true Irish gem. I’ve never felt such a blend of melancholy and celebration from a film before. (2011-03-06)

A beautiful poetic story greatly enhanced by the setting of a seaside town. A fisherman catches a mermaid, and things start happening. He has beautiful and less beautiful moments, but his life is definitely changing. Neil Jordan can hold magic, especially thanks to his superbly chosen actors, with Alison Barry's portrayal of Colin Farrell's daughter being absolutely incredible. The film captivates you with a kind story that shows the difficult fate of some people just as it is. It's not pathetic, even though the essence of the film is fairy-tale-like. (2014-03-13)

Once upon a time... a fisherman caught a girl in his fishing net. The girl didn’t want to be seen by anyone, her singing attracted the fish and good luck smiled on the fisherman for the first time. A very moderate Collin Farrell (I think he says fuck only once during the entire movie), a beautiful Alicja Bachleda and a fairy tale that takes place in the real world. A very nice story. (2010-08-18)

A film of two different planes. While the first is a pleasantly mysterious, weaving and romantic tale of two atypical characters interacting with each other, the second deals the cards on the table all too quickly and in an ordinary way. Some of the characters are very interesting (especially the two protagonists), some are downright annoying and generic – those typically boisterous characters of a harsh small town, who slap something here and there and then, purely by chance, play a key role in a scene that happens as if by accident. But you will remember the setting of untamed Ireland and Alicja Bachleda even after the closing credits. (2017-12-18)