A 31-year old temp secretary who is not very good at being temp or being a secretary is on an emotional roller coaster as she falls in love with her boss at the art gallery and foolishly submits her own photographs to the gallery. I’ve Heard the Mermaids Sings is (1 strike against it) a typical feminist movie with, of course, (2 strikes against it) a big lesbian theme, all of which is supported by—of course—Canadian and Ontario tax payers’ money. In spite of these trendy detriments, it is a good movie because it is about the underdog. Is the bisexual gallery owner down-trodden? But of course not—she is highly educated, sophisticated, and privileged. Is her mysterious lesbian artist lover down trodden? But of course not—she is fashionable, forceful, and has sexual access to a prominent gallery. Which leaves us with the main character—a 31-year old woman who cannot make it as a temp secretary or a photographer. Is she down trodden? Yes. She is a fine person who just does not quite fit. If contemporary males cannot identify with her, they are in major denial. Plus it makes you think, “If I were to meet this woman for the first time, I’d have no idea of the tenderness, confusion, devotion, ineptness, creativity, and mediocrity that came with the person I encountered in polite conversation.” A good portrait, well acted.
Dear Frankie is a calm, down-to-earth family drama set on the Scottish coast. A single mom—the father has never been around—is doing her best to raise her boy. The mother (Emily Mortimer) writes letters to her 9-year old son pretending to be his sailor father writing from various exotic places. But then the ship comes into home port.