A Pequena Ninfa do Mar

Of course, this Czechoslovak film ranks among the best of the 70's. The movie came to being at the time after the ominous 1968, the directors were allowed to shoot either political (i.e. communist) propaganda pieces, or if they did not want it, they chose fairy tales. Kachyna tried the Little Mermaid and he did right.Time has not washed away its magic and inner beauty... The Safrankova sisters are excellent in their competing roles, the depiction of the Deep Blue Sea is flawless. The score is also fitting. The whole mood of the film is rather sad, the end, of course, tragic. If I compare the Czechoslovak films coming from those days to the films that are shot at present, it is clear that despite all modern computer methods and tricks the present ones lack the atmosphere of those in the past. It is not only the production that makes them worse but also the quality of screenplay and acting. Very sad.

I first saw this film when I was ten in Germany. Quite by chance! I still remember listening to the little mermaid singing that bewitching beautiful haunting song at the beginning of the film and it stayed with me...until 15 years later, in England, they showed it... The film is far more than just another fairy-tale retelling! It is artful! It is more a film about unconditional love and the sacrifices one makes in life. The little mermaid gives up her father (who she loves above all else) and her home to be with the man whose life she saved. The film is beautifully shot - the mystical allure of the waves is captured and the music seems to dance with the waves. The Kingdom beneath the sea is somewhere magical and tangible. Her father laments on the nature of man who is bent on destruction and the film even touches on philosophy. It shows that man is subject to the laws of Nature. No-one can conquer the sea! There are things beyond Heaven and Earth. Other realms. It is a film rich in symbolism - from the little mermaid's bloodied feet upon the sand where she walks to the knife her father sends her through the ocean's waves so that she can kill her Prince and regain her immortality.I am now 39 and recorded this off German TV (have German satellite here in England!) and watch it every year..you can get the DVD at Amazon.de...it always reminds of me of why I am alive and that the secret of happiness is very simple indeed...This film is not a cartoon, but a proper film made in Czechoslovakia and will appeal to those of us who believe in the soul...The Little Mermaid is Innocence itself and her Beauty shines through every scene...

One more wonderful "Barrandov Movie". Back in USSR we used to watch anything, that came from "Barrandov Studios", especially children movies. This one matches the great standards they had in Czechoslovaky at 60-70-80s. Maybe too many "blank spaces", where they just show the sky or sea, but generally, beautiful scenery, nice costumes and the very best actors of the genre make this move one of the best filming of Andersen's "Little Mermaid".

This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. The sets and costumes for the world under the sea are dressed in blue and pale green and the world above in crimson and russet. The Sea People don't have tails due to 70's special effects limitations, so slow motion is used to represent movement underwater. This results in a dream-like vision of the mer-people's world. It's by far the most faithful adaptation of Hans Anderson's tale of painful unrequited love. If you're only aware of the jolly (and yet delightful) Disney version, be aware that this one is heart-breaking and quite haunting. There is definitely an English version out there (The German and Czech versions have released on DVD). I can remember it being shown in English on BBC1 around 1976/7. I do hope they release that version also. This is a true unsung classic and deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

I think the little mermaid is the most tragic and sad lovestory in world literature. Forget disney, thats not hans christian andersons tale especially not what he ment to tell us. It's about unforfilled love. The sacrifice you are willing to make for the one you love. Alienation, loosing your voice and ultimately giving your own life for a greater good. This adaption is haunting and melancholic. The only downside is that the mermaid doesn't have a tail (well no cgi back then) but it may look odd when its about a mermaid becoming a human with legs, when she had them before, but they tried the best with those long blue ropes simulating the mer people. The main actress is simply stunningly beautiful and she's a redhead, even before disney she was ;-) Music adds up perfectly to the melancholy and the overall production is rich for a 70s czech production, like all their farytalemovies (three wishes for cinderella, sleeping beauty and others). I just saw the life action disney version. Worlds apart. You cant even compare cause its not the same story. Go watch this one!