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“Misery is easy. Happiness you have to work at.” It’s a pearl of wisdom that Colin Farrell’s struggling fisherman in the Irish drama/fairy tale Ondine needs to get back on the wagon and recapture a bit of good luck that he threw back into the sea.

The story begins on a gloomy, overcast day along the splendid Irish coast. Syracuse (Farrell) has been on a run of bad luck when he pulls up a beautiful woman (Alicja Bachleda) in his fishing net. Nearly dead, she refuses to see a doctor and wants to avoid contact with anyone else.

Dumbfounded by his catch, Syracuse, who’s a recovering alcoholic, lets her stay at his isolated seaside house. Soon, his inquisitive daughter Annie (Alison Barry), who lives with her alcoholic mother, confronts the mysterious woman who calls herself Ondine.


Annie is convinced that Ondine is a selkie, which in Celtic mythology is a magical creature that becomes human when they take off their seal coat, and can live on land for seven years. She also believes that Ondine has the ability to wish away her kidney disease.

Syracuse scoffs at Annie’s ideas and discusses his thoughts with a priest (Stephen Rea, V for Vendetta). However, when he starts hauling in big catches every time Ondine sings. Syracuse starts believing too. He even falls for Ondine, but old demons revisit him when tragedy strikes and a mysterious man comes looking for her.

The pacing for Ondine is awkward initially but it soon rights itself as it becomes an enchanting little story that shouldn’t be overlooked. The film was written and directed by Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan who’s helmed such projects as Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and The Crying Game, for which he received an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Jordan brilliantly captures the hard luck aura that has unfortunately become synonymous with the Emerald Isle. He also draws out a scene-stealing performance from Barry who is making her silver screen debut. She is reminiscent of a young Dakota Fanning and infuses her spunky character with incredible resilience despite her life-threatening illness.

Farrell’s been known mostly for playing hard, rugged characters as in Tigerland, Minority Report and Miami Vice. Here he gets a chance to display a fragile vulnerability and he does it superbly. An additional plus is the tangible chemistry he shares with Bachleda, which isn’t surprising since off-screen they had a child together.

The biggest fly in the ointment for Jordan’s endeavor is the climax. It’s clumsy, contrived and his decision to shoot it in an off-color style diminishes the tension. Still, Ondine is an Irish gem that most filmgoers should enjoy.

On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, Ondine receives a B.
    
Ondine is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 102 minutes.

Now showing through July 2 @
Glenwood Arts
9575 Metcalf, Overland Park
Visit www.fineartsgroup.com or call 913-642-4404 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.

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