Lesbian Movie Review: I've Heard The Mermaids Singing

In this debut feature film, writer/director Patricia Rozema presents the story of Polly (Sheila McCarthy), a charmingly inept amateur photographer who takes a part-time receptionist job in an art gallery where she develops a crush on the curator, Gabrielle (Paule Baillargeon). Polly recognizes her infatuation with Gabrielle when Gabrielle's lover, Mary (Ann-Marie McDonald), comes into town.

As Polly speaks directly to the camera/audience, her story is illustrated through flashbacks and fantasy sequences. Director Rozema employs different film and video stock to convey Polly's story: grainy black-and-white for Polly's fantasies; freeze frames for Polly's photos; videotape for Polly's present narration; and full color for life. This structure produces a unique sensitivity to Polly's point of view as a character, and makes for an extremely original and enjoyable film.

This modern lesbian classic won the Prix de Jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987.

--Jenni Olson

(1987, Canada)
Director: Rozema, Patricia
Producer: Rozema, Patricia
Starring: Sheila McCarthy ; Paule Baillargeon ; Ann-Marie McDonald

(Photo: Amazon.com)

In this debut feature film, writer/director Patricia Rozema presents the story of Polly (Sheila McCarthy), a charmingly inept amateur photographer who takes a part-time receptionist job in an art gallery where she develops a crush on the curator, Gabrielle (Paule Baillargeon). Polly recognizes her infatuation with Gabrielle when Gabrielle's lover, Mary (Ann-Marie McDonald), comes into town.

As Polly speaks directly to the camera/audience, her story is illustrated through flashbacks and fantasy sequences. Director Rozema employs different film and video stock to convey Polly's story: grainy black-and-white for Polly's fantasies; freeze frames for Polly's photos; videotape for Polly's present narration; and full color for life. This structure produces a unique sensitivity to Polly's point of view as a character, and makes for an extremely original and enjoyable film.

This modern lesbian classic won the Prix de Jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987.

--Jenni Olson

(1987, Canada)
Director: Rozema, Patricia
Producer: Rozema, Patricia
Starring: Sheila McCarthy ; Paule Baillargeon ; Ann-Marie McDonald

(Photo: Amazon.com)