Director/Writer: Neil Jordan
Starring: Colin Farrell, Alicja Bachleda, Alison Barry, Stephen Rea
Score: 8.5 / 10
This review by Pamela Fruendt. The film opens in NY and LA today.
Director Neil Jordan’s ONDINE is an absolutely enchanting small, yet complex tale of love and loss; dreams and despair; and hope, always hope. No Hollywood remake here. This is a bonafide original story by Mr. Jordan who along with Christopher Doyle, Director of Photography, has given us a beautiful film shot on location in Castletownbere Ireland. It is an unexpected gray-green gritty feast for the eye and a treat for the soul.
ONDINE tells of Syracuse – a lonely unlucky Irish fisherman and recovering alcoholic who saves a beautiful woman caught in his net on the Lucy D. His wheelchair-bound daughter, Annie, believes this woman – Ondine – to be a mythical Selkie. Like her father, Annie is lonely and almost devoid of hope. No longer drinking, Syracuse regularly visits a local catholic church announcing his length of sobriety while in the confessional ( 2 years, 7 months, 18 days near the start of the film ), although never confessing nor seeking absolution. It’s more of a patient therapist relationship where they talk about trees. Life changes for Syracuse after saving Ondine: his fishing nets are full; he has stories for his daughter; and finally some money in his pockets. He’s happy, but as the film progresses, he becomes fearful of what could come. And that’s when things really get interesting.
Perfectly cast, Colin Farrell gives another superbly nuanced performance as the struggling Syracuse. It seems these ‘little’ films are his forte. Alison Barry (Annie) plays his daughter with just the right amount of fraility and inner strength in her first film role. And I can’t forget the piously-funny, consoling priest (Stephen Rea) who adds levity and not too much religion. But it is Alicja Bachleda’s Ondine who steals the show. Skilled. Breathtaking. She’s the glue that holds the film together. You stare into her eyes and she makes you believe…anything.
So, if you can forego the latest blockbuster, the newest 3D marvel and are ready for a nice ‘made like they used to be’ film see ONDINE. I think you’ll be glad you did. I am.
