Ondine

     Ondine starring Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda is a romantic/drama, rated pg-13 for the usual romatic/drama reasons.

     So, when you're looking for a romantic film to watch with the wife, you always hope the story will be good enough to keep your interest.  A lot of directors throw some skin in their films to keep the guys interest, but that doesn't always work.  I actually love romantic movies, and love having a wife to drag along so I don't look like a sap when I watch them, but this one caught my attention because it had Colin Farrell in it, and I love most of his movies, so I figured it would be good.  I wasn't disappointed.  This is a movie, guys, you can safely watch with your wife, girlfriend, significant other, etc.  The story is good.  There's no action scenes, though Syracuse (Ferrell) does get in a fight, but I promise you won't be disappointed.

     Okay, so a little background before the review.  I didn't know what a "Selkie" was.  I thought, mermaid, but that's wrong.  Selkies are mythical creatures of Scottish/Irish origin.  They are seal-type creatures who can come to land every so many years (there's a bit of discrepancy as to how often, and when they can come to land).  While on land, they shed their fur skins to become beautiful women.  They love to dance and frolic on the land until the sea calls them home, then they put their skins back on and return to the ocean, lake, or sea where they belong.  The pull of the sea is maddening to a Selkie, and they will break all ties, no matter how strong, to get back.  Because they are such beautiful creatures in human form, a lot of fairy tales are spun about men falling in love with the human-form Selkie, so they hide their skins so that they won't return to the sea.  These stories are always tragedies because the Selkie inevitably finds her skin, and she will return to the sea even if it means leaving a love and children behind.  So that is the set-up for Ondine.  It helps to know the folklore before watching the film.

     Syracuse is a recovering alcoholic fisherman trying to take care of his daughter Annie.  The problem is that he lives in a small town where everybody knows everything about everybody, and they stick their noses where they don't belong.  Syracuse's ex-wife has custody of their daughter.  Unlike Syracuse, the ex still has a problem with booze.  Their poor daughter, Annie, has kidney failure, and frequently has to undergo dialysis while she waits for a transplant.  Syracuse can't count on his ex to keep their daughter alive.

     When Syracuse pulls the beautiful Ondine out of the water in his nets the the troubles begin piling up.  Ondine is petrified at being found, so Syracuse hides her in his dead mother's shack.  When his daughter discovers Ondine, she decides that the woman is a Selkie.  Syracuse thinks she is running from an abusive husband or boyfriend.  The truth of myth vs. reality isn't revealed until the very end.  

     Annie and Ondine bond, Syracuse and Ondine fall in love, but unlike most sappy love stories, the plot takes a very real turn for the worse.  

     This movie really surprised me because they took what would be a fairy tale and added realistic aspects of all of the wonderful, complicated mess we call love.  You don't feel as if you're watching an Indie movie.  The acting is incredible and a bit heart-wrenching.  I'm actually surprised that Ms. Bachleda's career didn't take off more after this film.  There is a bit of a dark undertone, so just be prepared for it.  Overall, though, the film was really enjoyable.

     It's actually on netflix right now if you have an account, or you can click on the link at the beginning of this review, and get it on amazon.

    I give this movie