smallm-835-88384
Decent enough film, but the accents distracted me too, Kirsten Dunst's most of all (yeah, it did sound kind of southern), though she did well in her physical mannerisms, which made up for it to some degree. Funny, not one of the Nova Scotian accents sounded right to me. I'm originally from there, though a mainlander. Made me wonder if I forgot how a Cape Breton accident sounds, or if they were tuning into some very local dialect I've never heard before (Pugwash maybe?). Half these people sounded Irish and the others I don't know what. Then I doubted myself noticing in the credits the job of Nova Scotia casting. But now that I look in the listing here it seems Nova Scotia casting involves hiring a bunch of people from Ontario. Hrmmph.
vchimpanzee
After a tragedy, teenager Claire is brought to an coastal fishing village, which based on the closing credits must have been in Nova Scotia. Her mother Fiona has split up with Claire's father Max (who is not seen, though there is a phone conversation when the phone actually works). They are staying with Uncle Pete, and Claire hates being cut off from the world. In flashbacks, she is shown playing the violin with an orchestra of some sort, and she seems to like one of the boys in the orchestra. She brings the violin with her and does play once. A reference is made to the family living in Berlin, and the closing credits do refer to Berlin, Germany, but no one in this movie has an accent that would suggest they are German. I thought maybe these people were Scottish or Irish.One day while swimming in the ocean, Claire sees a package. It turns out to be a manuscript of a story by Celia, a cranky old woman. At first, Celia seems to want nothing to do with anyone else, but when Claire expresses an interest in the story, and this makes Celia happy. As Celia tells the story, we see it happen. Claire seems to cheer up whenever she visits Celia, but otherwise she remains quite bitter.A baby is born to Rose, the first baby of the fishing season, in a village that is one of the best places anywhere for fishermen. The people wonder if this baby will be "the one," as if she is something evil. The baby is baptized, and yet still people behave as if she is evil.Silly, the little girl, helps the fishermen out. She appears to be a hard worker. And shortly before she turns 16, she is pretty but quite a tomboy and certainly rough-natured. This must have been a family movie because surely such a girl in real life would have used language nice girls shouldn't hear, but Silly is almost G-rated. Almost.And then it happens. Every 50 years since the Vikings arrived nearly a thousand years earlier (probably not counting the years after the Vikings gave up on this place), there has been some sort of tragic death, and the fish have disappeared. It is called "the curse". The people are ready to give up, but Silly believes the fish will come back.After she steals the doctor's boat and wrecks it, Silly must go to work for the doctor, who also rents out rooms, to pay him back. He is a stern and demanding taskmaster, yet Silly continues with her attitude. Then comes the day a large ship docks in the community. Admiral Griggs wants to build a military base which would require changes that would put an end to fishing, even if the fish would have come back. Based on the date on a tombstone, all of this is taking place shortly after World War II. The admiral, his spoiled wife, and their handsome son James stay with the doctor, and Silly must tend to their every need. Actually, James stays in a tent on the beach, but Silly doesn't mind taking care of him, if you know what I mean.There are parallels to the present day. On the radio, it is announced that once again fishing has ended in this town and developers want to take over and make the community prosperous again.And Claire and Silly are both teens who are rebellious and misunderstood, who have had difficulties in their love life.Kirsten Dunst is the real reason to watch this movie. She does such a wonderful job, and of course her looks add something, even if her appearance isn't consistent with her character's background. I wouldn't have even known Lynn Regrave, but I guess she is getting up in years. She too gives a very good performance. And Brent Carver is quite good as Silly's frustrated father. I will say everyone with a leading role does a good job.I liked the traditional music at a dance.Overall, I found this movie depressing. I was glad there were some pleasant scenes and even some humor, but this movie is probably intended for women or girls who "enjoy a good cry." That isn't me. I was particularly distressed with the progress of Claire's character. But if you are someone who keeps a supply of Kleenex for your favorite movies, and you enjoy stories about life on the coast where civilization hasn't quite caught up, this is a good choice.
iamOphelia
*SPOILERS* this is a great movie, i just wish there were more of it. it tells the story of two girls, one from the 1940's, one from 50 years later, each of whom has their lover die in an accident. claire (the modern one) comes to the island with her mother after her boy friend died in a motorcycle accident -claire was driving. she meets a cranky and bitter older woman, celia, who tells her the tale of "silly" a girl who loved the sea and fishing. silly was born the first baby of fishing season, and was the baby chosen by the curse that rests on the island. every fifty years all the fish leave the island b/c of a curse that two viking lovers who drowned put on it for revenge for their deaths. every one on the island starves until one of two young lovers dies- leaving the one left to mourn (eternal sorrow as tribute to the curse)- this has happened for over 500 years. silly's mother made her promise never to go near the water, and the fish do leave. an admiral and his family come to the island with the idea of putting a naval base there. silly and the only son james fall in love and of course every one else wants to pull them apart. in the end, they escape by boat to elope. but silly's mothers pearls get lost over the side of the boat. as soon as james jumps in the water to get them, a storm blows up and he is drowned. back in the present, claire reads the story and by grieving for silly and james she is able at last to grieve for herself and her own loss. i rate this film-- 7 of 10 starsif you want a happy ending don't watch if you want to cry, this is a good movie ditto if you want lovely nova scotia scenery or like kirsten dunstfinal words: each of the story lines would have supported their own seperate movie and its a desperate shame that they were not seperate movies.as is though, it is mostly good and made me cry, which i hardly ever do. it left me wanting more of the story which i don't think will be likely to happen so i say go watch "Michael Collins" after this movie. there's one that will satisfy.
