It’s odd to think that, despite society’s strong fascination with mythical mermaids, they haven’t featured more prominently in movies. There is of course Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Ron Howard’s Splash, but outside of them, it’s hard to really name any. It seems madness because, considering the sheer amount of mermaid related products that sell each year, there would almost definitely be a market for it. Where other filmmakers have turned a blind eye though, paves the wave for director Mathias Malzieu to bring A Mermaid in Paris to the masses.
Lulu (Marilyn Lima) is a mermaid living in the Seine. All she wants is an easy life free from harm, but she has an unfortunate habit of luring men to her with her beautiful singing voice. Once the men hear her song, they instantly fall madly in love with her. So in love in fact, that their hearts literally explode. Unaware of this terrible curse, head-in-the-clouds musician, Gasper (Nicolas Duvauchelle), stumbles across an injured Lulu and takes her back to his apartment to help her. To Lulu’s puzzlement, her siren call appears to have no effect on Gasper; he insists it is because his heart has already been exploded from past relationships. Neither of them however, is immune to genuine true love, and as the pair begin to fall for one another, the spouse of one of Lulu’s previous victims is out for vengeance. Will Gasper be able to get Lulu to safety before it’s too late?
Mermaid stories, especially ones that deal with romance, always feel a little odd to watch. There’s that unspoken elephant hanging in that air that the mermaid isn’t technically human, and that can feel a little ick at times. A Mermaid in Paris also falls into this trap on occasion, but there’s so much gloss, shine, and good-natured warmth within that it’s not a thought that lingers too long. Typical mermaid movies also feel the need to transform the mermaid. If you look at both Splash and The Little Mermaid as examples, both Ariel and Madison have to have legs in order to go ashore and woo their men. Here Lulu remains a mermaid for the duration, allowing Gaspar to fall for her for everything that she is, and not something that she is masquerading as. It puts a wonderful female-positive spin on tradition, as Lulu proves that no woman should have to alter herself for a man.
Considering A Mermaid in Paris is about a musician and a singing mermaid, it’s no surprise that the score and soundtrack are simply beautiful. Lulu’s call is haunting and etched with grief, which juxtaposes beautifully with the upbeat jazzy numbers that Gasper is produced. The inevitable duet between them, meets somewhere in the middle and is catchy folksy country. As well as sounding delightful, A Mermaid in Paris is stunningly gorgeous to look at. A pure feast for the eyes, Malzieu throws so much colour, vibrancy, and sheer magic at the screen that it’s almost like a work of art. It echoes the aesthetic of the likes of Amelie and The Shape of Water, with sprinklings of Wes Anderson quirk, and makes for a really special viewing experience.
Effervescently enchanting, A Mermaid in Paris will lift your spirits and make your heart sing.
A Mermaid in Paris was reviewed at Fantasia 2020.
A Mermaid in Paris
Summary
Escape the world and fall in love with a whimsical work of wonder.
