Neil Jordan’s mermaid fairytale “Ondine” has sprung a leak of content today. The new poster has arrived, a few new images we haven’t seen and a U.S. roll out schedule as well. Our Editor-in-chief insists its dreamy, sumptuous and beautiful, but does sound repeatedly apologetic about it’s last act “twist” (whatever that is).
But to an outsider, this is what is has going for it: Director Neil Jordan who can be hit and miss, but has delivered some interesting works in the last few years (perhaps “Breakfast On Pluto” being the best) and Colin Farrell who starts asn Irish fisherman and recovering alcoholic who discovers a woman in his fishing net who he believes to be a mermaid (the rather gorgeous Alicja Bachleda). Let’s also not forget the always awesome Stephen Rea as a priest.
Farell seems to be in top form these days after dropping the drug and drink himself so we’re excited to see what he can do with this one. For cinema aesthetes, the film also boasts the cinematography of Wong Kar-Wai cinematography Christopher Doyle and a score by Sigur Rós’ keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson (evidently “All Alright” from the Icelandic quartet’s 2008 album, With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly, features prominently in the film as a type of theme). Here’s the official synopsis.
ONDINE is the story of Syracuse, a simple fisherman who catches a beautiful and mysterious woman in his trawler’s nets. The woman seems to be dead, but then she comes alive before Syracuse’s eyes and he thinks he may be seeing things. However, with the help of his ailing, yet irrepressible daughter, Annie, he comes to believe that the fantastical might be possible and that the woman (Ondine) might be a myth come true. Ondine and Syracuse fall passionately in love, but just as we think the fairytale might go on forever, the real world intercedes. Then, after a terrible car crash and the return of a dark and violent figure from Ondine’s past, hope eventually prevails and a new beginning is presented to Syracuse, Ondine and Annie.
If you haven’t already seen the trailer, an international version is here, but we assume Magnolia, who is distributing the film, will also release a U.S. version sometime soon. The U.S. roll-out schedule is below, after the jump, but the film hits limited release theaters (NY, LA) on June 6.
6/4/2010
West Los Angeles, CA: The Landmark 12
New York, NY: Sunshine Cinema 5
6/11/2010
Albany, CA: Albany Twin
San Diego, CA: Hillcrest Cinemas
San Francisco, CA: Embarcadero Center Cinema 5
Washington, DC: E Street Cinema
Chicago, IL: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema
Minneapolis, MN: Lagoon Cinema
Philadelphia, PA: Ritz 5 Movies
6/18/2010
Palm Desert, CA: Cinemas Palme D’Or 7
Santa Cruz, CA: Nickelodeon Theatres
Denver, CO: Chez Artiste
New Haven, CT: Criterion Cinemas 7
Seattle, WA: Harvard Exit Theatre
6/25/2010
Hartford, CT: Real Art Ways Cinema
Atlanta, GA: Midtown Art Cinemas 8
Waterville, ME: Railroad Square Cinema 3
Santa Fe, NM: CCA Cinematheque
Salt Lake City, UT: Broadway Centre Cinemas
Milwaukee, WI: Downer Theatre
[full sched from Magnolia]