Ondine Review: THE ANTI-BLOCKBUSTER

Iron Man and its superhero brethren are like McDonald’s; fast, easy to digest and oh so good in the moment. But it’s definitely not about the experience. Ondine, on the other hand, Neil Jordan’s newest film is like a five course meal that ignites your senses. Each moment lingers, languishes and entertains on every level.

Released amidst the sea of mega-movies, this is the anti-blockbuster which is why you may not have even heard of it yet. Set in Castletownbere on the craggy Irish coast, this modern day fairy tale stars Colin Farrell (in his best performance since Tigerland) as Syracuse or “Circus.” A fisherman, reformed alcoholic and town joke, Syracuse’s life revolves around his daughter Annie (Alison Barry) who suffers from kidney disease.

Syracuse has resigned to fishing and spending time with Annie while avoiding his still boozing ex-wife. But his peaceful existence is disrupted when on a fishing run his nets catch something completely unexpected- a beautiful young woman (the luminous Alicja Bachleda) called Ondine.

Skittish and uncertain, Ondine takes up Syracuse’s offer of refuge, but makes him swear he’ll keep her existence a secret. Convinced she may be a figment of his dreams, he spins a tale to Annie, who starts to believe along with her father that Ondine is a selkie, a mythic Irish sea creature.

As the three of them begin to bond, Ondine’s past comes back to haunt her and the movie takes on a darker tone. While entertaining, some of the plot feels rushed but it certainly doesn’t take away from the experience. It isn’t just the story that makes Ondine so special. The beautiful cinematography and haunting soundtrack set the mood while the standout performances of Farrell and the young actress played by Alison Barry as Annie ground the film in reality. The electric chemistry that zips between Farrell and Bacheleda (his off screen girlfriend and mother of his son) and the entertaining banter between Farrell and Stephen Rea as the town’s priest and Syracuse’s confidante make this the summer treat you didn’t even know you wanted.