I've Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)

Scatterbrained Polly gets a job as a secretary in Gabrielle's art gallery. Polly aspires to be a professional photographer, and idolizes Gabrielle for her artistic ability. When Gabrielle ... 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. Polly aspires to be a professional photographer, and idolizes Gabrielle for her artistic ability. When Gabrielle rekindles an old romantic relationship with the younger painter Mary, Polly becomes jealous, and discovers Gabrielle is not who she claims to be.

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Plot Keywords:

triple f rated | art | art gallery | lesbian | female protagonist | 

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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:

Le chant des sirènes

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$262,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,408,491

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer-director Patricia Rozema has said of this film: "Our voices, our representation of ourselves, have been in the hands of others, namely men, since the beginning of the mediums of film and television. My main character in I've Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987) videotaped a confession that is used through the film. It's her way of having control over her definition of herself" and "I have become post facto a representative of the country. So if you ask, 'Is Mermaids a Canadian film? It has become one. It has become a means whereby people characterize Canadian film. I think in the creation of Mermaids, I did see it in political terms. I thought of the underdog. Canada is not a superpower by any means. It's very quietly, comfortably democratic, but it's plagued by a sense of inferiority".

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Quotes

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

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Princess Bride/China Girl/The Big Town/The Pick-Up Artist/I've Heard the Mermaids Sing (1987)

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Soundtracks

Viens, Mallika, les liane en fleurs (from Lakmé)
Composed by Léo Delibes
Courtesy of Pathé Marconi

User Reviews

Absolutely Magical!

The wonder of this film, like one of the paintings it features, can't be described in words. It is pure magic in the most abstract form! One can't help but adore Polly's originality (Sheila McCarthy). This is a fantastically crafted and acted film. It will trigger your imagination and place a smile on your face. After the film is over, you won't be able to stop dreaming. I can't watch it enough! It is very sad that it is no longer in print (at least last I checked) and I am very lucky to have purchased it in the Laser Disc format when I did. I have been a fan of this film since I was 20 and am still a fan 14 years