I've Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)

In the heart of Toronto, Polly Vandersma, a uniquely untalented yet aspirational photographer, navigates her solitary existence. Her life, boxed within her apartment walls adorned with only her own photographs, revolves around her makeshift darkroom bathroom, her only companion in this artistic journey. This unassuming artisan finds her joy not in the grandeur of 'important art,' but in the tiny details of the everyday world. Despite her lackluster job at a toothpaste factory and a knack for terrible typing, she stumbles upon an opportunity that propels her life in an unexpected direction—a secretarial job at a downtown art gallery. In this world of high art and sophistication, Polly meets her antithesis in the form of Gabrielle, the French curator of the gallery. The stylish, self-assured Gabrielle, who is as mystified by Polly's simplicity as Polly is by her elegance, is a failed artist harboring a desperate desire to create 'one truly beautiful thing' before her life's end. As Polly's admiration for Gabrielle grows, she becomes entangled in the complexities of the art world and the labyrinth of Gabrielle's life, which includes a rekindled romance with a younger painter, Mary. This low-budget, 1987 film captures the contrasting lives of Polly and Gabrielle, offering a thought-provoking narrative about love, art, talent, and worth. Juxtaposing Polly's first-person narration with the director's perspective on her photographic endeavors, the film plunges the audience into an eccentric universe where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. As Polly's naiveté collides with Gabrielle's worldliness, the film exposes the age-old questions: What is the essence of love and art? What truly defines talent and value?

I've Heard the Mermaids Singing is a comedy movie featuring Sheila McCarthy.

I've Heard the Mermaids Singing is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy I've Heard the Mermaids Singing on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Kino Now and YouTube.