
The Mermaid
2021

Representation Score
Good
2020
Not RatedDirector
Mathias Malzieu
Runtime
102 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
A Mermaid in Paris is a visually sophisticated musical fable that prioritizes aesthetic whimsy and emotional expressionism. It functions as a surrealist romance rather than a vehicle for social critique, opting for a dream-like logic that remains insulated from contemporary sociopolitical discourse. While the film avoids harmful stereotypes, it lacks the intentionality needed to disrupt traditional narrative hierarchies. The story stays within the bounds of established genre clichés, focusing on interpersonal chemistry rather than characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity or systemic challenges.
Category Breakdown
The story follows a conventional romance between Lou and the mermaid, without explicitly engaging with queer identities or challenging traditional romantic structures.
The mermaid plays a significant role in the protagonist's emotional growth. However, the film does not actively challenge established gender hierarchies or patriarchal models.
The film uses a stylized, European fairy-tale aesthetic for its Parisian setting. The casting follows Western-centric norms without significant multi-layered diversity or race-bent archetypes.
The narrative prioritizes individual emotional journeys and the power of art over institutional critique. It exists in a magical-realist vacuum that avoids engagement with systemic power dynamics.
The mermaid’s physical separation from the human world serves as a poetic metaphor for otherness. The film avoids treating these limitations as objects of pity or mere plot devices.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
A man rescues a mermaid in Paris and slowly falls in love with her.

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