Themes in Ondine

Ondine contains a multitude of themes and ideas. Many of the themes found in the film are inherently Irish but others go beyond any regional bounds and deal with universal parts of the human experience. Syracuse, the movie’s main character, is a fisherman and that occupation has long been associated with superstition. He has a lucky fishing haul with Ondine after she sings for him and he automatically assumes she has some kind of special power. As far back as seafaring goes, superstition is tied into many parts of the sea and, in turn, fishing. The Irish as a people also are known to be more prone to believing superstitions. Irish mythology and folklore are a strong tradition for the people of the Emerald Isle and there are cases of people believing in certain folkways up to modern times. Even though Ireland is a nation wrapped in Christianity, the old folktales and myths survive and even blend with modern religion in the everyday lives of Irish men and women. Syracuse seemingly considers his daughter’s Selkie theory, trying to find books about the Selkie myth in the library when Annie has already checked them out.


Luck, both good and bad, is dealt with extensively in the film. Like any fisherman, he tells Ondine it is bad luck to have a woman on a boat when she asks to come fishing with him. Luck seems to be responsible for causing Syracuse to drag up Ondine in his net in the first place and when Ondine sings, “causing” Syracuse to catch more than his normal amount he becomes convinced she brings him good luck.


There are two very distinctly Irish themes that run throughout this movie. One is that a person has come to Ireland instead of a character leaving Ireland. Most Irish literature and films of the past have dealt with the emigration of people from Ireland, usually either to England or to the United States. Here, as is the case with much contemporary Irish texts, we see immigration emerge as a theme. The reasons for leaving could be many but it usually revolves around work and escaping the stagnation that seems to persist in Ireland. In this film, however, Ondine arrives in Ireland and the focus is very much on getting her to stay rather than main characters leaving. The other Irish theme deals with the above-mentioned stagnancy that seems to pervade most Irish literature. Irish characters always seem to feel stuck or trapped in Ireland and nothing around them seems to change. The monotony and dullness causes a boredom that characters in Irish literature and film always have to face. In this movie, Ondine is thrown into this unchanging Irish life but brings with her new talents that spice up the scene and add an excitement to the other character’s lives. She can swim expertly, speak a foreign language, and above all sing so beautifully that it is almost a supernatural element in the movie.


In addition to the inherently Irish ones, Ondine has two universal themes that carry a powerful message. The character of Ondine herself is tossed into a whole new world, one in which she is not known and is foreign to her. This allows her the chance to reinvent herself and begin to build a life in which she is happy and enjoys. Many people would love an opportunity to do this themselves, and while one may never be fished up in a net off the shores of a foreign country, things like going to a new school, moving away to college, or even just living in a new neighborhood offer experiences similar to this theme. The character of Syracuse best represents perhaps the most important theme of the movie: redemption. As a recovering alcoholic with a broken marriage and a sick daughter, Syracuse is struggling to keep things together when he meets Ondine. Ondine herself gets a chance at redemption when she chooses to stay with her new Irish family after the drama of the film’s climax (which is arguably caused by her presence). Syracuse is called Circus by almost everyone in town, including the priest whom he goes to for guidance and support, because of his past antics as an alcoholic. The movie’s plotline causes him once again to turn to alcohol and his actions during his drunkenness cause stress and pain to many characters. By the end of the film, even though he relapsed and acted rashly, his protection of what he cares about most lead him to a peaceful redemption, rewarding him with a loving and happy family. Like many folktales the movie ends in a “happily ever after” fashion. Audiences should leave this movie with a heightened sense of hope, knowing that the unlikely is not impossible.