Mermaids

2017

1h 16m

Documentary

List

100%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Five tail-donning women join a growing mermaid subculture.

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Mermaids explores the fascinating world of a sub-culture of women who, inspired by the mythical aquatic figures of legend and lore, engage in cosplay and/or mermaiding. Mermaids are half-women, half fish. They have the upper body of a female and the tail of a fish with an enchanting voice. Literature's most famous example is Hans Christian Andersen's well-know fairytale "The Little Mermaid". Disney Studios made an animated film in 1989 based loosely on the fairy tale. Prior to the animated film, there was Hollywood's 1984 mermaid film "Splash" starring Daryl Hannah and Tom Hanks. Cosplay is the contraction of the words costume and play and refers to the art and practice of dressing up as character from a movie or book. The women featured in the documentary dress up as mermaids and role-play their favourite character and embody the nature of their favourite character. The documentary features women who take it a notch above cosplay and do mermaiding. The film explores this fascinating phenomenon. Is cosplay a hobby or a lifestyle? Well, you be the judge. We all play different roles in our lives and who hasn't dressed up when they were a child or as an adult in their favourite character costume to go trick or treating or attend a Hallowe'en party. And come to think about it there is Comic-con where many attendees dress up as their favourite superhero or villain. The availability of the monofin has made it possible for these women to complete the likeness of their favourite character. Today, mermaids and sirens are portrayed as the same character but in Homer's Odyssey, sirens were half-women, half-bird with an enchanted singing voice. The mermaids of Weeki Wachi Springs perform acrobatic and theatrical shows for paying guests from an underwater theater with glass windows. For some of the women, cosplay offers a way of working out personal difficulties. For some, it gives their lives meaning and purpose and provides a sense of community. The dynamics change when these women wear a costume. They are transformed. The mermaid character speaks to these women. Their mermaid character encapsulates the way they desire to see themselves and express themselves. It provides a pathway to their authentic self and engages them on many levels. Cosplay allows these women to express their creativity and empowers them. These women are deserving of your admiration for their devotion to their character and for keeping the myth alive.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I assume they're just getting rid of all the negative reviews.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/18

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Audience Member

This wasn't a documentary you'd expect to see. While some of the MERMAIDS explained their profession quite well. The one named Cookie has mental issues, due to the fact Of how she acts and she has even said she believes she a mermaid. While I understand the usual enthusiast, she's a woman of older status. She is NOT a professional mermaid as she claims to be just a lady in a costume claiming to be a professional mermaid. Kind of alarming to say the least especially to anyone who does work in the profession in her area. They should have touched in actual professionals and not feed an old lady's fantasy. The other mermaids dive bar and such are amazing. But that Cookie Lady is a joke. This documentary could have been done alot better. ????

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Ali Weinstein

Director

Anastasia Phillips

Narrator

Ali Weinstein

Writer

Caitlin Durlak

Producer

Ron Mann

Executive Producer

Catherine Lutes

Cinematographer

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Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

Weinstein treats her subjects with compassion and empathy, while offering curious audiences a nicely cut look at one of the world's little-known subcultures. Under the sea, it sounds good to me.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 14, 2017

Full Review

Bruce DeMara

Toronto Star

Weinstein finds poignancy in the tales of the tails and Catherine Lutes' stunning underwater photography just might send you out searching for a fish tail of your own.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 13, 2017

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Jorge Ignacio Castillo

The Canadian Crew

Mermaids does a good job humanizing a potentially ludicrous practice...

Rated: 3/5

Jan 28, 2020

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Jared Mobarak

The Film Stage

We're given access to support systems and stories via place of absolute safety and trust in the hopes they may inspire other lost souls searching for unconditional acceptance.

Rated: B-

Nov 21, 2017

Full Review

Jenny Feniak

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Whether mermaids fascinate you or not, there is a certain allure to this unusual documentary that will not let you look away.

Aug 17, 2017

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Craig Takeuchi

Georgia Straight

Beautiful to watch, even as the content sometimes thins out in this otherwise gentle crowdpleaser of a film.

Jul 21, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

Five tail-donning women join a growing mermaid subculture.

Director: Ali Weinstein
Producer: Ron Mann
Screenwriter: Ali Weinstein
Production Co: Sphinx Productions, Naiad Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2018
Runtime: 1h 16m

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