THE SEVENTH STREAM

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: thematic elements

Rated:

A haunting film by Hallmark Hall of Fame, The Seventh Stream is very magical and contains some beautifully touching scenes, but also has a sorrowful ending. For Owen Quinn (Scott Glenn) and other fishermen in the Irish coastal village, times are hard. A fishing draught has ravished the coast and left much of the town scraping for funds in the aftermath of the second world war. Mourning the loss of his wife, Quinn becomes more and more solitary and remote to his friends, including his good-natured fishing partner Willy Driscoll (Eamon Morrissey), and the woman who secretly loves him (Fiona Shaw).

The Irish coast seems cursed, all save for Eamon Dunhill, a secretive young man who seems to have a sudden twist of good fortune. Going out in his skiff each day with a mysterious woman, he returns with a full load of freshly-caught fish. The villagers have their ideas who this strange and beautiful girl (Saffron Burrows) might be, but only Quinn seems to earn her respect. He sees her numerous times in the darkness, watching him, calling to him, visiting him in his dreams. The girl, whom he calls Mairead, is one of the mythical sea people. During the Seventh Stream, which is an unusual rise in the tides which only lasts a few short weeks, Mairead shed her seal's skin and became human. But the skin was stolen by Dunhill, and until its return she must remain his servant and slave.

A skeptic who has never believed in magic, Quinn finds himself nevertheless drawn to this beautiful, innocent young woman who so desperately pleads for his help. In a twist of fate, they are brought together and Mairead must contend with the possibility that her lost skin will never be returned, therefore condemning her to life on land. Those in the town are wary of her, certain there is something amiss in her friendship with Quinn and the good fortune she seems to bring him. Dunhill is also grieving the loss of his good luck charm, and will take any means in order to recover her for his own use. In the meantime, Mrs. Gourdon, a widow whose unrequited love for Quinn initially makes her jealous, befriends Mairead and finds her life miraculously changed. But something terrible is going to blow in on the harsh Irish wind and force both Mairead and Quinn to make a fatal decision.

Though this film is decidedly strange, there's something hauntingly romantic about it. Some of the scenes are so beautiful you find tears coming to your eyes, particularly the final shot of the music box. In a world where most stories have happy endings, The Seventh Stream defies the norm. It gives us a realistic ending not without its sorrow. The story is at times predictable but does contain a few surprising elements and plot twists. Lovers of tragic romance will probably enjoy this film very much. The acting is very good, and it was nice to see Saffron Burrows play a moral individual for once. There are some thematic elements (death, several people nearly drowning, some fist fights) and mild language (bloody), as well as implied violence, but most of these aspects suit the mood well and aren't overly problematic. A murder is committed, though we don't see the action itself. Mairead lives with Quinn in his cottage, but there's nothing inappropriate between them. It's implied Dunhill has slapped Mairead, resulting in Quinn's wrath. 

The opening scene is also a little misleading as he creeps up beside a fire on the beach and steals her seal skin. There's a woman dancing just outside the light; whether or not she's fully clothed cannot be determined, but there's no visible nudity. I found it an interesting film, but not one I would watch repeatedly. In some small ways it reminded me of Return of the Native, more for the romantic aspect and mysterious heroine than matters of plot or climax. Both are films you will either adore or hate, but each has their heartbreaking and romantic moments.

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