Mermaids (film)
- Cher: Rachel Flax
- Bob Hoskins: Lou Landsky
- Winona Ryder: Charlotte Flax
- Michael Schoeffling: Joe Porretti
- Christina Ricci: Kate Flax
Mermaids better is an American film by Richard Benjamin from the year 1990. The film is based on the novel " Mrs. Flax and her daughters " by the American author Patty Then, from the year 1986.
Action
The film is set in the U.S. in the 1960s. The story is told from the perspective of 15 -year-old Charlotte Flax ( Winona Ryder ), who lives with her sexually permissive mother Rachel ( Cher) and her 8- year-old sister Kate ( Christina Ricci ) and never met her father. The big problem, and the only constant of this nuclear family is the constant change of location caused by Mrs. Flax, who moves after each failed relationship along with their daughters, only to repeat the error in a new city.
The daughters have created their own escapes from reality: Kate is a keen swimmer and feels most at home underwater, Charlotte shows a great interest in the Catholic Church, even though the whole family is Jewish.
A new move leads the three in a small town in New England. There, Mrs. Flax falls into a relationship with the divorced shoe salesman Lou, who not only strives for them but also for Charlotte and Kate becomes a surrogate father. Developed for the first time Mrs. Flax serious feelings for a man.
Also, Charlotte discovers unexpected love what you strictly religious worldview brings plenty of messed up. The man of her dreams is the young taciturn school bus driver Joe. Gradually, the two come closer. One evening there will be a misfortune: Charlotte lets her little sister playing alone by the river, then she runs into Joe. While the two exchanged caresses, Kate falls into the water and loses consciousness. Random passing by nuns they can save.
While Kate is in hospital, it comes to violent confrontation between the mother and Charlotte. Mrs. Flax accuses her older daughter that their dereliction of duty have almost led to the death of Kate's. She slaps Charlotte and asks them to pack their things and leave the house. But Charlotte replied her mother that they never cared for the needs of the daughters, but selfishly put their male acquaintances in the center of their lives have.
Following this debate, the two reconcile. Mrs. Flax now manages a serious relationship with Lou, Charlotte flees no longer in religion, with Joe she no longer meets. She performs confidently on in their school and is swarmed by classmates. Kate is still the best of their age group in the swimming club. In the final scene, the mother and her daughters dancing together in the kitchen of their house while they prepare the food.
Background
- Originally Emily Lloyd should play the role of Charlotte, but was shortly replaced by Winona Ryder, on the grounds that these Cher look similar. Emily Lloyd later received a financial compensation for her dismissal.
- The search for a director proved to be difficult. Both Frank Oz, as well as Lasse Hallström jumped off, because they are not understood by Cher. In the end, Richard Benjamin got the job.
Reviews
- Video Week: Witty comedy in the atmosphere of the 60s with lots of funny ideas and a sense of melodrama.
- Film-dienst11/1991: Undecided oscillating between drama and comedy, maintains the routine, but listless film directed only in the first half by witty and emotional dialogues as well as some acting performances; Period atmosphere are often communicated only through the music of those years.
- Epd Film 6/1991: Because there is no compelling structure and no central conflict, the events gurgles as though to himself. That bothers while first half hardly if the characters from all their quirks and eccentricities yet to become established if the film still amazes with his acerbic wit and his precise timing. But then the author Robert June seems to be a little out of steam, suddenly the action stands still and the images come to a crawl.