I've Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)

Scatterbrained Polly gets a job as a secretary in Gabrielle's art gallery. Gabrielle has a romantic relationship with the painter Mary. Polly hangs a picture by Mary believing that ... See full summary »

Director:

Patricia Rozema

Writer:

Patricia Rozema

Stars:

Sheila McCarthy, Paule Baillargeon, Ann-Marie MacDonald

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sheila McCarthy	...	Polly Vandersma
Paule Baillargeon	...	Gabrielle St. Peres
Ann-Marie MacDonald	...	Mary Joseph
Richard Monette	...	Clive
John Evans	...	Warren
Brenda Kamino	...	Waitress

Storyline

Scatterbrained Polly gets a job as a secretary in Gabrielle's art gallery. Gabrielle has a romantic relationship with the painter Mary. Polly hangs a picture by Mary believing that Gabrielle made it.

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Plot Keywords:

art | art gallery | painting | lesbian | toronto ontario canada | 

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Taglines:

Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief strong language

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Akousa tis seirines na tragoudane

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Gross:

$1,408,491 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canada Council, The, National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Ontario Arts Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is a reference to a line in T.S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" that reads: "I have heard the mermaids singing each to each / I do not think that they will sing to me."

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Quotes

Polly Vandersma: Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?

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Connections

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004)

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Soundtracks

"OPEN WINDOW"
By Mark Korven
Courtesy of Duke Street Records

User Reviews

The best film I've seen on the nature of artistic inspiration

This is a wonderful film. I first saw it back in the eighties and it is still fresh in the mind. The title is a quote from T S Eliot and refers to epiphany. There seem to be a lot of spiritual references. Did everyone else not notice the significance in the older woman being named Gabrielle and the younger Mary? Gabrielle could not create what the earthier Mary could but was her muse. I am not sure of this but Polly in the Canadian accent sounds like Paul-y. The disseminator of the faith? Any comments from anyone? Yes it was small budget but still beautiful. Polly was hilarious. I loved Mary (not that she would be likely to give me the time of day). Check out a book that the actress, Ann-Marie MacDonald, wrote: Fall on Your Knees.

Anybody know where I can get the DVD in London?