Ondine

Ondine has the melancholy feel of an Irish ballad; sad, longing, with a touch of regret. Colin Farrell (In Bruges) plays Syracuse, an alcoholic fisherman who has been sober for over two years on account of his daughter Annie, Alison Barry. Two years ago Syracuse came home after a prolonged drunk to find his daughter unconscious on the floor. He vowed then and there to give up drinking so that Annie would have at least one sober parent. He has since become a devoted father, picking Annie up after school and taking her to dialysis several times a week. Annie is in need of a kidney transplant.

Because there are no AA meetings in this small Irish town, Syracuse has been pestering the local priest, Stephen Rea (The Crying Game) and taking advantage of his vow of silence. Living in a small village it is hard to keep a secret so Syracuse pours his heart out to the priest because he is forbidden to reveal anything that he has shared.

One morning while out fishing, Syracuse draws up his net only to find a beautiful mysterious woman inside, Alicja Bachleda . Believing that she is dead, he begins to call for help, but suddenly it is revealed that she is alive and he does everything he can to save her. Syracuse wants to take her to the hospital but she becomes very agitated. She refuses to be seen and pleads to be left out of sight. Confused and unnerved, Syracuse relents and takes her to a secluded house instead. Once she is settled, he rushes off to pick up his daughter for her dialysis appointment.

During the dialysis session, Syracuse tries to process the days events by weaving it into a story to tell his daughter. Based on his description, Annie is convinced that he has captured a Selkie, a woman of the sea. Syracuse doesn’t know what he’s found, but the woman is certainly magical. When she is with him the fish seem to swim right into his net. With her by his side, his luck has finally changed and he is bringing in the biggest hauls of his life.

Alternating between myth, fantasy, and intrigue, Ondine tells the quiet story of a father and the sacrifices he’s willing to make for his daughter. Ondine brings luck, but she also brings mystery and danger. It is refreshing to see Colin Farrell in this nice understated role. It is also good to see him play an Irishman, his native culture.

I enjoyed the mythical element of the film and the story is sweet without being overly sentimental. The tale draws you in and you want to believe that the myth is true. To quote the tag line line, “The truth is no what you know. It’s what you believe.” I what to believe in Selkies and that they can bring luck and love. Ondine just may be a Selkie after all.

Rating: Second Run A quiet Irish fairy tale