THE TRUTH IS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW. IT’S WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
Irish fisherman Syracuse (Colin Farrell) rescues a woman (Alicja Bachleda) from drowning; she’s a bit of a mystery and Syracuse’s daughter Annie (Alison Barry) thinks she could be a mythical creature… Neil Jordan’s next project after the controversial The Brave One (2007) was radically different – but faithful to his Irish past, a realistic drama with fairy-tale overtones. A cute film, with very good actors (including young Barry as the precocious girl with kidney problems) and great use of music by Sigur Rós that lends the movie a dreamy quality. Still, never as touching as Jordan’s aiming for.
2010-Ireland-U.S. 104 min. Color. Written and directed by Neil Jordan. Music: Kjartan Sveinsson. Cast: Colin Farrell (Syracuse), Alicja Bachleda (Ondine), Alison Barry (Annie), Stephen Rea, Tony Curran, Emil Hostina.
Trivia: Sveinsson usually plays keyboard in Sigur Rós; one of the band’s songs also plays a crucial role in the story.