An underrated gem in Canadian cinema

By: Aditi Roy

Still from *I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing*

The 1987 Canadian film I've Heard the Mermaids Singing is less of a film and more of an experience. This queer cinema gem is an uplifting story everyone should watch.

The title of the film comes from T. S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." The line is derived from the phrase "I have heard the mermaids singing each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me." This line captures T. S. Eliot's feeling of unworthiness to get the attention of potential women love interests. Though this poem does not directly correlate to the film, we see elements of this realization within the life of our main character, Polly Vandersma.

Director and writer Patricia Rozema takes us into the world of Polly. Wonderfully played by Sheila McCarthy, this goofy character wins your heart by being a relatable woman in her thirties who is fun-loving yet deeply insecure. She isn't your typical put-together woman lead, but her innocence and kind-heartedness make her one of the most compelling characters in the film.

Polly is an amateur photographer who serves as an assistant in one of Toronto’s art galleries. We see her journey navigating the daunting and superficial art world while simultaneously falling in love with the gallery manager Gabrielle St. Peres, played by Paule Baillargeon.

We closely follow Polly's endeavours that occur more in her vivid imagination than in reality. In this film, we see Polly discover herself and come to varying realizations about her current state in life.

This one-of-a-kind film is beautifully tied together by its direction, cinematography, acting and storyline that works harmoniously together.

Douglas Koch, an acclaimed Canadian cinematographer, enhanced the film's message through his extraordinary camera work. Scenes of Polly's daydreaming sessions wonderfully capture the mystical figments of her imagination. We see Polly climbing the surface of a tall glass building only to fall down screaming. But this fall doesn't lead to disaster. In fact, she starts to fly! Polly continues to soar and admire the scenic views of Toronto while opera music plays in the background. Such colourful dreams make a frequent appearance in the film. His work in the film creates a wonderful viewing experience. The Academy of Canadian Cinema even recognized Koch's outstanding work as he was awarded the Genie Award for Best Cinematography.

Meanwhile, the interactions between characters are captured authentically, making you feel like you are present with Polly as she stumbles into the most hysterical encounters. The story centres on Polly and her interactions with art gallery manager Gabrielle. We see the two characters develop a close relationship. Polly admires Gabrielle; she represents everything she's not: successful, elegant, and put together. She even gives Polly a full-time position at the gallery. Gabrielle looks past Polly's flaws, making her feel seen and recognized in a way she hasn't been before.

Though they have ups and downs during their journey, there is a sensitivity to their relationship that makes it seem genuine and unique. The two never date, but we sense the proximity they have through each scene. Each shot builds upon their relationship and captures the subtleties of their growth.

To say that director Patricia Rozema plays a significant role in this movie is a severe understatement. Rozema wrote, produced and directed this piece: this is her directorial debut. Her great direction fulfilled her vision of creating an impactful and unique film. In addition, she managed to perfectly administrate each production element to make the piece fluid and engaging.

Patricia Rozema's innovative use of music was also first showcased through I've Heard the Mermaids Singing. Rozema revealed in interviews that when directing films, she organizes camera shots in a musical sense to provide the movie with an effortless flow. In addition, her decision to focus her story on idiosyncratic characters provides the audience with new, exciting stories that they are unfamiliar with. As a result, Patricia Rozema manages to find a sense of transcendence through this well-executed film.

Despite the production's incredible work, the highlight of I've Heard the Mermaids Singing is undoubtedly the phenomenal acting. Sheila McCarthy steals the show with her portrayal of Polly, an eccentric and unconventional character. McCarthy managed to bring dimension to her with her subtle quirks and authentic delivery. Sheila McCarthy makes the mess that is Polly Vandersma into a charming and captivating character.

McCarthy's co-star Paule Baillargeon also does an exceptional job portraying the mysterious, sensual and elegant French Canadian art gallery manager. Other actors in the film include Brenda Kamino, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Richard Monette, John Evans and Rebecca Jenkins. Although this is a comedy film, the acting isn't overly dramatic and loud; it remains subtle. While the movie's central focus is Polly, all the actors playing the supporting characters give exceptional performances.

If you are looking for a charming and hysterically funny queer movie, this is a must-watch. This extraordinary film makes you feel invigorated, offering you a more carefree perspective on life.

RATING: 4/5

The epitome of suspense with a Canadian touch

By: Atiya Malik

The use of spiders in a mystery or thriller film isn’t new, but in Enemy, renowned director Denis Villeneuve leaves his viewers disoriented long after they’ve seen the film.

Denis Villeneuve is a French Canadian filmmaker who’s best known for directing Dune, one of the most anticipated films of 2021. He has also directed successful science-fiction films such as Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Arrival (2016). Villeneuve is a four-time recipient of the Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Direction, including a win in 2014 for his spine-chilling film Enemy.

Based on the novel The Double by José Saramago, this film begins with the line “Chaos is order yet undeciphered,” which couldn’t be a more straightforward way to foreshadow the film’s confusing and head-scratching nature. Notably, one of the first scenes displays a woman stepping on a spider with a black heel. This is the first time the audience sees a spider and it becomes evident that this insect will hold symbolic significance throughout the film.

Adam Bell (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a history professor who feels trapped in his repetitive and meaningless lifestyle and decides to watch a movie one night to cheer himself up. In the movie, he notices an actor in the background that looks freakishly familiar. Anthony Claire, the actor in the film, doesn’t just resemble Adam in the way that siblings often do. This man is the exact same person physically, down to every scar, hair and even the sound of his voice. The film continues as both men become obsessed with the other and delve into each other’s affairs — but at what cost?

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The cast of Enemy was hand-picked by Villeneuve himself. In an interview with Curzon, he explains how he needed a skilled actor to play the characters of Adam and Anthony because the plot would simply not be believable without the right actor.

“It’s not about special effects, it’s about acting,” said Villeneuve.

Award-winning actor Jake Gyllenhaal plays Adam and Anthony, two incredibly complicated characters. Gyllenhaal has been in several blockbuster movies, including Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019), The Nightcrawler (2014) and Source Code (2011). In Enemy, Gyllenhaal’s riveting use of facial expressions fully engrosses viewers: the genuine fear, shock and disturbance that he can convey with just his expressions tell a story within itself.

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Mary, Adam's girlfriend, is played by Mélanie Laurent, a well-known French actress, filmmaker and singer. She is best known for her role as Alma in the film Now You See Me (2013). Sarah Gadon, a Canadian actress best known for her work in Dracula Untold (2014), plays Anthony's wife.

The film production does an impeccable job of capturing shots of Toronto from several angles and perspectives that make the city feel lonely and confined, while also displaying iconic shots of Toronto and Mississauga, Ont. city skylines. Residents living in the area might even be able to recognize well-known street names such as Adelaide or Rathburn.

Toronto’s cityscape captured in *Enemy*.

Mississauga’s iconic Marilyn Monroe towers pictured in *Enemy*.

In an interview with VODzilla, Villeneuve talked about carefully selecting Toronto as the film location. “The city had that kind of personality, the paranoid, oppressive feeling and I was looking for that landscape, something with pressure,” he said.

The energy in New York or Chicago is similar to what Villeneuve was seeking. However, he wanted to film in a city that hadn’t been as well-loved by the camera, and what better place than one close to home?

The cinematography in Enemy truly carries the movie. The plot is predominantly told through visuals as the first half of the film has minimal use of voice and conversations. This inevitably forces the viewer to focus on every piece of visual information, including brightness.

Enemy is a film that is very dark… literally. It’s as if while editing, someone discovered the saturation button and turned it all the way down. This is a strategic choice because the lack of colour itself expresses unsettling feelings of suspense and mystery. The world should not be this grayscale.

The film was also heavily dependent on the use of music, and it did not disappoint. The music selection is eerie and disturbing, making it more likely for the viewer to feel uneasy.

The use of spiders in Enemy was somewhat of a weak point. It was obvious that there was a deeper meaning behind their seemingly random appearances, which was intriguing. However, it’s very unclear as to what that meaning is because it’s left open for interpretation.

One compelling explanation is that the spiders symbolize a fear of commitment because Anthony and Adam both feel trapped and disconnected in their romantic relationships. In a scene with Anthony, his pregnant wife asks him if he’s “seeing her again,” implying that he has been unfaithful in the past. In a scene with Adam and his mom, she accuses him of having trouble with sticking to one woman. The spiders could represent Anthony and Adam’s unfaithful natures and display how it increasingly consumes their lives… right up until the film’s final shot.

With a run time of 90 minutes, Enemy is a film that holds your attention sporadically. The film, adapted from the novel The Double, has a truly complex and nail-biting plot that you won’t find anywhere else. Are Anthony and Adam long-lost brothers, clones, a figment of one’s imagination or all the above? These unanswered questions serve as both the film’s strength and weakness, leaving you with thoughts that linger on for far longer than expected. However, its execution could have been clearer, particularly regarding those spiders.

The viewer is left wanting more while staring at a black screen wondering, “What on earth did I just watch?”

Rating: 3/5 stars