Review of Ondine (2010) by Andi M — 24 Nov 2010

"I am afraid, Father" -Syracuse.

"Why are you afraid?" - Priest.

"Because I am starting to have hope.".

Movies like "Ondine" are the reason I have my website. It is such a great movie and people looking for great movies need to see this one. Read on to see my review!

"Ondine" is a story set in Ireland, about a down-on-his-luck fisherman named Syracuse, who finds a woman in his nets while fishing. Unsure of how and why she appeared, and because of her desire to stay hidden from others, he let's her stay at his deceased mother's remote cottage. Syracuse's luck begins to change as the loner begins to love, and the poor fisherman begins to catch fish after a long dry spell. While sitting with his young daughter during dialysis, he tells her the story of a fisherman finding a woman in the water, Ondine. She's convinced that Ondine is a seal who left the water, some sort of legend in Ireland.

Syracuse, known to the town as Circus because of his former alcoholic lifestyle, gave that all up and was divorced by his ex-wife as a result. His life was a joke, but he wanted to make things right, and take care of his daughter. His ex-wife retained custody due to Irish law, but was hardly a good mother. Syracuse hit bottom, no wife, no fish, no respect from the town. Until Ondine came along and changed things. There's a beautiful scene where Syracuse is in a confessional booth with a priest and Syracuse through tears talks about fear and hope. Possibly the most precious words exchanged in film this year.

The film takes a darker tone in the second half, with a mysterious, satanic looking man stalking Ondine. Some say it's her water-husband coming to reclaim her. I won't give away the resolution, but I will say that this film is beautiful. It's so subtle in speaking some deep truth about being human and so much about hope.

It's not going to go down in cinematic history books, but it will go down in mine. I hope you will see and enjoy this little pearl.