Filmed in SW Ireland, 'Ondine' tells the story of a lonely fisherman, Syracuse, who is struggling with alcoholism and the aftermath of divorce. One fine day he hauls in his nets, and finds a beautiful, half-drowned young woman amongst the flapping fish. After being revived, Ondine claims to be fearful of strangers, so he offers her the shelter of his dead mother's empty cottage in a secluded inlet. Syracuse's catches miraculously improve when Ondine accompanies him and sings haunting melodies in a foreign tongue. He soon falls in love, and starts to believe Ondine might have arrived from some sub-aquatic fairy domain.
Meanwhile, Syracuse's invalid child, Annie swiftly sniffs out the secret romance, becoming convinced of Ondine's otherworldly origins and learning of ancient legends that predict a gloomy outcome. Director Jordan skillfully blends realism with folk-lore - but the film contains some irritating credulity issues as it puffs up Ondine's magical attributes, and over-sweetens Annie with too many spoonfuls of saccharine cute. Other than these drawbacks 'Ondine' is a fairly charming fable, and comes within a seal's whisker of being seriously good.
Meanwhile, Syracuse's invalid child, Annie swiftly sniffs out the secret romance, becoming convinced of Ondine's otherworldly origins and learning of ancient legends that predict a gloomy outcome. Director Jordan skillfully blends realism with folk-lore - but the film contains some irritating credulity issues as it puffs up Ondine's magical attributes, and over-sweetens Annie with too many spoonfuls of saccharine cute. Other than these drawbacks 'Ondine' is a fairly charming fable, and comes within a seal's whisker of being seriously good.