Ondine updates Euro folklore tales of a water nymph with a modern twist. In the hands of Neil Jordan, Ondine bursts forth with wondrous imagery and his own peculiar sense of magical realism.

Colin Farrell (Syracuse) headlines as a lonely fisherman who one day snags beautiful Alicja Bachleda (Ondine) in his nets. What follows charts his emergence from his shell and the effect Ondine has on others in the small coastal town. Small parts include Stephen Rea as a priest with questionable advise and Alison Barry as Syracuse’s daughter, herself wheelchair bound with a kidney disease.

Farrell always puts on a good show but here he especially seems in his element as a longhaired loner seeking solace from his past.

Jordan and cinematographer Christopher Doyle constantly use framing that emphasizes Ondine’s mystery in relation to Syracuse, whether it’s in the manner of her sensuality or her innocence. Is Ondine a mermaid with mystical powers or a Mrs. Robinson from under the sea? Ondine is a perfect counterpoint to big summer films because it concerns itself with atmosphere not explosions. Ondine just wants to cradle you through its various moods like a strong sea breeze.

- Michael Bergeron