Goldfish Memory

'Goldfish Memory' is a light, bright celebration of our hilarious tendency to learn nothing from experience. Like the goldfish with his 3-second memory, we plunge from one romantic disaster to the next, seemingly incapable of resisting the dizzy thrill of new romance whenever it comes our way. Focussing on a philandering German professor at Trinity College Dublin, who plies his female students with Rilke's poetry (possibly the most unlikely aphrodisiac in movie history - read some to help you sleep), the movie follows the misfortunes of an extended circle of related characters in a connected series of whirlwind romances. Hetero, bi or homosexual, some don't know who they are, one or two don't know where they are. This is Arthur Schnitzler's 'La Ronde' meets 'Love, Actually' and, with no pretensions to high art, is a colourful and poignant celebration of student life and love in the café and pub society of downtown Dublin, Europe's most fun city. Lead actress O'Shaugnessy is destined for great things.

Man, if you still hesitate to watch this movie go ahead! I've seen quite a bunch of movies about love and relationships in homosexuality and heterosexuality, and this one is excellent. Behind the fact that it's very funny and entertaining, the cast is just perfect, the characters couldn't be more into their parts. The story is touching and true, never boring because it's always renewing when you don't expect it to. It gives you a good taste of life and its turmoils with a delightful sense of humor. It's refreshing really! Too bad there aren't more quality movies like this one... Thank you for this (too short) moment of enjoyment and laughters.

Although this movie came recommended by some friends (and because of that it was a blind purchase), I must say I didn't get very excited from it. Yes, the movie is nicely shot, contains a few nice scenes, but overall I found it cheesy, tacky, and very predictable! Come to think of it.. the people who recommended it are the same who keep trying to convince me to go to Dublin, so I guess it's a nice movie for people who had a nice time in Dublin (another person here also commented on how nice Dublin looks in the movie).

So... although I was recommended to go see this movie, I advise people to see it only if they like Dublin and/or typical romcom's. Even my girlfriend (who is quite a romcom-addict) didn't like it too much. The more experienced/serious movie-addict will most likely be disappointed.

I give it 6/10, because it wasn't bad in an annoying way ;-).

In Dublin Tom, a 40 something literature lecturer, tries it on with any of his female students that are gullible enough. His standard pickup line involves telling them about the reported shortness of a goldfish's memory. Supposedly its only three second which means that as the fish swims around its bowl, by the time it returns to where it started it's all new again and ready for discovery.

It's Irish whimsy like that that help him get into these girl's knickers. Clara, his latest conquest takes it badly when he moves on and she decides to try women. The woman she tries is Angie a newscaster. Meanwhile Angie's best mate is Red, a gay guy who works days as a bicycle messenger. Our cyclist has romantic issues of his own as he becomes smitten with David the hunky but straight bartender whose girlfriend is giving HIM grief...

Yes, it's a light hearted merry-go-round of romantic entanglements and while none of the stories are terribly touching or new, they are passably written and enjoyable. The characters are charming and pleasant to look at if none too deep.

If you liked the lecturer's goldfish line, this movie may be perfect for you. By the time it's over you may be able to start it again having forgotten these light and agreeable but none too memorable story lines.

This 'little' Irish film takes its title from the reported shortness of a goldfish's memory, which supposedly lasts only three seconds - enough time for it to swim around its bowl, and then its memory starts over again. "Goldfish Memory" could be described as a less pretentious and more natural "Love Actually": an ensemble cast forms a mosaic of love and sex in Dublin. Writer/director Elizabeth Gill discusses gay, lesbian and straight relationships with humor and tenderness, never being heavy-handed or moralistic. She clearly is not concerned about being too deep or serious, but still manages to create some smart dialogue - particularly, a touching scene between Angie (Flora Montgomery), a lesbian reporter, and her best friend Red (Keith McErlean), at the beginning. Damien Rice (who'd become famous for the "Closer" soundtrack one year later - "Cold Water", by the way, was used in this movie first) and Lisa Hannigan singing Brazilian bossas both in English and Portuguese (with a very cute accent) in the soundtrack is a delightful surprise. A great Irish feel good movie. 8.5/10.