Ondine [DVD]

"Ondine" is one of those films that seems to have suffered from a lack of publicity, allowing it to slip quietly under the radar, which is rather a pity for such a charming film. Perhaps its cause was not helped by having only one recognised star, although there seems to be another one in the making, in the lovely form of Alicja Bachleda. It also has a strange offbeat story, which may have put some people off. The film has a haunting mix of Irish mythology, love story and mystery thriller, all in a contemporary setting. Perhaps it is the sort of beguiling film that only an Irishman with sufficient blarney could pull off?

The story concerns an Irish fisherman Syracuse, played by Colin Farrell, who catches a rather beautiful girl, played by Alicja Bachleda, in his fishing nets. Some blokes get all the luck! All I ever seem to catch is the occasional, very unnattractive looking dogfish. He sensibly decides not to throw her back in. The girl speaks with a strange accent and swims like a fish. Things get curiouser and curiouser. Is she a Selkie (mermaid) of Irish mythology? Is she perhaps just an illegal immigrant? The plot thickens and is complicated further as our fisherman predictably falls in love with his catch, and what red blooded male wouldn't. The water nyph sings like an angel, and Syracuse even begins to catch salmon and lobster, long thought fished out in the area. Who could fail to be enamoured! But as in the fairy stories of the brothers Grimm, there is a dark side to our story.

Director and writer Neil Jordan, and his star Colin Farrell have gone back to their roots for this one. The film was made in Castletownbere, in County Cork, Ireland, where Jordan lives. Farrell made one of his early TV appearances which was filmed in the village. Working in such a comfort zone does not always lead to a good film, but in this case it does. Jordan's script is always literate, and given the subject matter, not too far fetched. The scenes he wrote for Farrell's wheelchair bound daughter in the film never become maudlin, which would have been an easy snare to fall into. Farrell is well suited to his role and able to fall back on his stock Irish brogue with genuine enthusiasm. It is nice to see him escape again from pretty boy roles in films like "Miami Vice" and "Swat", and do something more meaty as he did with the excellent "In Bruges". But perhaps the biggest surprise is Alicja Bachleda, who possesses such a strange ethereal beauty, as to suggest she may well be of another world. There are many good scenes with her, especially memorable being one where she slowly emerges from still waters. Much more impressive than even Darryl Hannah in "Splash", whom she makes look like "the wicked witch of the west". Bachleda studied at the famed Lee Strasbourg acting academy, so she is well schooled. Her family are one of the biggest and most famous Polish highland families, which is ironic given her role in the film which is most definitely all at sea level. She was apparently very good in the Kevin Kline film "Trade", and is definitely one to look out for. Farrell was certainly smitten as the two are now partners, and Balcheda has had her first child with him. One would imagine that this relationship will not be harmful to her career!

This is certainly a film well worth watching. It has moments of genuine humour, especially between Farrell and his confessor priest. The love story is not of the sickly sweet variety, that I often struggle with. The story keeps you guessing throughout, and allows the imagination to run riot. Aside from Balcheda, the films other great strength is the beautiful atmospheric cinematography by Christopher Doyle, which does justice to the dramatic Irish coastline. The amazing qualities of water, in reflection and movement are picked up perfectly. A mention should also be made of the lovely film score, rich in traditionally based Irish folksy ballads, which picks up the atmosphere of the film perfectly. It makes you want to cry when you see the production line of silly American girly flicks being so successful, when a literate and intelligent film like "Ondine" seems to sink without trace. An all too familiar story unfortunately.

Enjoyable Movie. Beautiful backdrop of West Cork helps the fairytale feel of this film. This is the film where Farrell met Balcheda, his current leading lady, and the chemistry shows. Not one of the high budget blockbusters, but still an excellent watch.

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR 'BOTH' THE DVD and BLU RAY VERSIONS ***

Colin Farrell has become a great actor - not just a good one - a great one - and there's a very real difference. As wildly differing characters, he has amassed an accumulation of powerhouse performances in "London Boulevard", "In Bruges", "Crazy Heart" and "The Way Back" - there seems little he can't do. And Director/Writer Neil Jordan was smart enough to surround him with a hugely complimentary cast on "Ondine" (filmed in 2008) that I dare say the handsome and talented Dubliner absolutely relished working with.

Set in a quiet fishing village in Southern Ireland, Farrell plays Syracuse (nick-named "Circus" because of his previous clown-like antics when drunk) who goes out to fish every day, but both life and the sea have beaten him and his boat into a hopeless wreck. But then something almost mystical happens...

The gorgeous Alicja Bachleda is "Ondine" - a woman literally fished out of the Sea into Syarcuse's trawler net one afternoon. Maybe she's a magical sea-creature - maybe she's not. She can't remember - but mysteriously she seems aware enough to not want to see 'other people' whom she perceives as dangerous. And whenever she sings on his boat, bountiful things happen to his catch - and therefore his fortunes.

Recovering from drink himself, a broken marriage to another drunk (a great performance of skill from Dervla Kirwan) and trying to keep his sick daughter alive (a sensational and touching turn by newcomer Alison Barry), Farrell's character has his hands full. He then confesses all of this to his local Catholic priest, because he knows that the confessional bounds him to secrecy (a wonderfully weary and understated turn by Stephen Rea - who has starred in 12 of Neil Jordan's movies).

But the heart of the film belongs to Alison Barry as Annie - trundling around lanes and grass pathways in her motorized wheelchair. A precocious and witty child - she comforts her troubled Dad - while also giving him a very real reason to stay sober (two years and counting). But fate has cruelly lumbered Annie with a life-destroying condition of her own - a failing liver. Ever upbeat though - Annie believes in magic - fairytales - and her talks with the ethereal "Ondine" only fuel this.

But while she's playful and charming at first with the mysterious woman who seems to permanently love the sea, Annie soon wants and needs more. Weakened by the draining hours of Dialysis - she craves a cure, a proper family, a happy ending. Annie starts to dangerously believe wholeheartedly (like a child would) in the 'good luck charm' Syracuse has been blessed with. Daddy's beautiful lady in the secret cottage down by the shore is the saving of them all. Ondine wouldn't be hiding something...would she? And on the story craftily goes to a lovely Sigur Ros song sung on television towards the end...

Filmed on location, the scenery is ace, the locals are believable and the bonds that hold together and destroy a family are realistically portrayed. Believable humour even crops up from time to time - the two fishery officials peering down on Ondine tangled up in his nets instead of salmon (dialogue above). And to the cinematographer's credit they make the Beara Peninsula in Cork where it was filmed look beautiful but not like an Irish Tourist board advert. Even Colin's Cork accent is good and lends his character a 'humbled-man' feel, which really works. And as Farrell and the intoxicating Bachleda fell in love on set for real, there's also a secret tenderness and chemistry at play between them that feels like art imitating life. It finishes on a lovely song called "Braille" by Lisa Hannigan that sees out the credits...

To sum up - "Ondine" is not a blockbuster - it's a small film with a big heart.
I had a feeling it would be good - and it is.
Lovely, lovely stuff...

Note: A WORD ABOUT THE 'BLU RAY' VERSION:
At present (February 2012) "Ondine" is on BLU RAY but only in the USA. The good news is that the 2010 American release on Magnolia Home Entertainment is 'all regions' so it will play on UK machines (type in barcode 876964003384 in Amazon and it will direct you to the correct issue).

Audio is English 5.1 DTS-HD and there are two Subtitles - English for the Hard Of Hearing and Spanish

The aspect is defaulted 1.85:1 so it fills the entire screen and it's BEAUTIFUL to look at about 90% of the time. There are moments when blocking appears (the opening shots - the intruders at night in their home) but these are few and far between. The clarity when Colin's in the confessional with Stephen Rea - when he's talking head to head with his daughter - absolutely spot on - and a joy to look at.

The 2 Extras are 10 and 8 minutes and have interviews with most of the cast and the Director - very nice - if not a little short.

If you can plum the extra for the BR then go for it - because this is a movie that shines on that format...