Ondine

Neil Jordan’s whimsical tale full of Celtic charm, Ondine, will make sure that you fall in love with Ireland all over again – if you haven’t already had your fill of all the latest Emerald Isle-located cinema offerings in past months. It’s not because it paints the stereotypical image once again, although it is unavoidable at times with some of the scenery. It’s because is fuels the strong and captivating folklore aspect that encourages escapism for a couple of fantastical hours. But don’t be fooled by the fairytale synopsis of a fisherman named Syracuse, played by Colin Farrell as his usual devilishly cheeky self, who catches mermaid-style character Ondine (Alicja Bachleda-Curus) in his trawler net. It sounds like a present-day Splash or The Little Mermaid tale, but this is a contemporary one with a surprisingly dark edge and equally subdued, grainy cinematography depicting a rainy and turbulent isle full of even darker self truths and social issues.

Jordan keeps things mystically simmering along, injecting pockets of humour and engaging our curiosity with the arrival of the beautiful marine stranger. Ondine appears other-worldly, but in hindsight, never actually reveals any supernatural tendencies, just a sweet, naïve nature and athletic skill in the water. The truth of her origins shocks more than if she were a real selkie, a mythical sea creature who can bring luck and good fortune in her wake. What she actually injects is a huge dose of hope and serenity and is a catalyst of redemption for a broken family, Syracuse’s, a wary loner and recovering alcoholic who is divorced from his wife, brilliantly played by Dervla Kirwan and barely recognisable at first. Farrell could be preconceived as overbearing in such a role, considering it’s his home turf and mother accent, but he actually brings realistic and flawed qualities to Syracuse, inhabiting his jovial, sensitive and generous but broken soul, rather than recreating the tired stereotype. Syracuse is one of Farrell’s finest and most understated roles to date.

That said the gem of talent in the film is young Alison Barry who plays Syracuse’s adored, disabled daughter Annie, wise beyond her years, who is convinced that Ondine is a selkie and goes to great lengths to prove it. Her Irish wit melts the heart as she repeats many a memorable line, including ‘curiouser and curiouser’ – ironic considering this release’s timing with the latest Alice in Wonderland adventure. If some believe Alice to be surreal, then Jordan’s creation may prove a little too quirky for some, but in the filmmaker’s hands it undoubtedly and expertly explores the fine line between reality and fantasy, joy and sorrow, beauty and ugliness and has an indescribable originality to it. It is not one of Jordan’s greatest works but Ondine deserves an audience, and Colin Farrell, the stunning Alicja Bachleda-Curus and the luck of the Irish may be the answer to drawing in the theatre crowds.

Last edited: 7th March 2010

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