Ondine Movie Review

It’s an Irish romantic drama, directed and written by Neil Jordan. It starts with a woman whom a fisherman finds in his net. His daughter believes that the woman is a Selke, a seal that turns human while on land.

Plot-

Syracuse ( Colin Farrell Colin James Farrell is a famous Hollywood actor. H >> Read More... ) is a divorced fisherman, who stopped drinking for his daughter Annie (Alison Barry). His daughter has failing kidneys. One day, he finds a barely covered woman in his fishing net. She is alive and she calls herself Ondine (Alicja Bachleda). She declines to go to the hospital and wants no one to see her. Syracuse puts her in an isolated cottage, which belongs to his late mother.

Next morning, Syracuse finds her washing clothes in a stream and singing in her uncommon language. When he picked Annie up from school, he was telling her a story of a fishermen, and how women used to sing songs to catch the fish. Annie got curious about the story and followed her father.

Syracuse brings a new dress for Ondine, which she was struggling with, as this is her first experience. One day, Syracuse meets a priest to confess the things he has done. Another day, Ondine is swimming and unexpectedly meets Annie. They gel up with each other well. On the other side, Syracuse is in the library asking for the books of Selkies, when later he discovers that Annie took them all.

Ondine gets another surprise visit from Annie; they become good friends, and Annie requests Ondine to stay for seven years until her husband claims her back. But Ondine tells her that she is not a Selk who grants wishes. The whole incident gave Annie a nightmare about the Selkie’s man coming.

Syracuse again confesses to the priest that he conducting misdeeds with Ondine last night, and is afraid of the streak of luck she brings. An unknown person comes in search of Ondine, but Syracuse ignores him. Later, he discovered he was the man of Ondine who came to take her back. He wants Ondine to stay, but at such stage, his only wish is the good health of his daughter.

When Annie returns home from the hospital, Syracuse promised her that he will bring Ondine back. And he does.

Analysis-

This story reveals how often a Selkie woman finds happiness with landsman. An interesting fairy tale, but the emotions and sensitivity of the film doesn’t go much deeper than its moody surfaces.

Star performances-

Collin is impressive, but Alicja performed beyond expectations.

What’s there-

A sweet fairy tale, which can engage the audience. The hope of getting everything normal is the best in the movie.

What’s not there-

Several portions of the film don’t relate to you. Lack of intense scene.

Verdict-

Worth watching, at last, you will not regret spending your money for one time.