Richard Benjamin
Aptly named Mermaids, this film tells the story of three women who live in between two worlds, but all very differently. The eldest of whom is the mother, Rachel or Mrs. Flax (Cher). She is the epitome of your idea of Cher as a mother. Serving an assortment of finger food thrice a day and having an unapologetic sexual hunger for men. The youngest is her daughter Kate (Christina Ricci). A competitive swimmer with all the quirks of a young child. And in the middle is Charlotte (Winona Ryder), and also the narrator. She has an unusual obsession with Catholicism, which urges her to repent her natural sexual desires.
The film is an easy watch, because it doesn’t necessarily have a plot. We battle with Charlotte hoping that she will succumb to her urges, and pursue her dream boy. And we wonder if Rachel will ever re-marry to the man who adores her. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter. These men are merely accessories to these women, who we already find so interesting.
Mermaids
director RICHARD BENJAMIN
year 1990
director of photography HOWARD ATHERTON
cast CHER, BOB HOSKINS, WINONA RYDER, MICHAEL SCHOEFFLING and CHRISTINA RICCI
words PRIYESH PATEL
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