Mermaid

Moving on from kids movies, Mermaid is more of an adult fairy tale. A girl is born in a run down coastal town in Russia, and may or may not have magical powers. Which doesn't really matter, because the story is about her growing up, and finding herself.

Alisa starts out as an alien, discouraged from everything she loves, and unhappy with her home and family. The journey to find her peace is quirky and eccentric, as in nearly every coming of age movie, but the little touches here and there are well worth seeing. Her silent spell from ages eight to eighteen is well played, her legless drinking buddy is both original and well acted, and her love interest is suitably awkward and unrequited. Her series of odd jobs wandering the streets of Moscow dressed as a cellular phone or a giant mug of beer are clever and well used.

The cinematography is extremely bleak and depressing (on purpose), and the focus is on realism more than picturesque scenes. It works in getting across the feel of her life, and life in Russia in general, but lacking that richness in color may have hurt the film a bit as an hour and a half of bleakness is certainly depressing.

There are many charming moments, and the conclusion is satisfying and suitably Russian. Looking back I enjoyed this a lot, but for some reason I'm not in a hurry to see it again. Definitely worth seeing if you liked Amelie or Donnie Darko, although it doesn't have a ton in common with either.