Review of Ondine (2010) by Duane B — 11 Jul 2010
Ondine is one of my absolute favorite films of 2010, another impressive notch in the belt of Neil Jordan. Set in present day Ireland, a fisherman finds a girl in his net, and learns that she may in fact be a selkie, a underwater character from a Celtic myth.
Rather than bowing to convention and cliches, Ondine is a fresh, fanciful, and atmospheric modern fairy tale, complete with excellent performances (especially by Colin Farrell and Alison Barry (who plays his daughter)) and some of the absolute most breathtaking cinematography I have ever seen.
I can see that this would be a love it or hate it experience for most people, due to the nature of the story, but it absolutely won me over, and I had a fantastic time watching it. Although it's considerably different from most of Neil Jordan's work, it's also very clearly informed by it and surprisingly fits neatly alongside the likes of Mona Lisa and The Crying Game.
I've been a huge Jordan fan for quite some time now, but Ondine surpassed even my expectations. Kudos, Neil! You've done it again.
This review of Ondine (2010) was written by Duane B on 11 Jul 2010.
Ondine has generally received positive reviews.
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