I’ve heard the mermaids singing

Organizer / Collaboration: Organized by queer loox
Age: From 16 years old
Location: Plateforme
Language: In English with French subtitles
Additional information: Dir. Patricia Rozema | 1987 | Drama | 81' | CA
Links: queer loox on Facebook

cinema

I’ve heard the mermaids singing

queer loox: The queer-feminist film series in Luxembourg

This LGBTQI+ classic comedy romance is about the scatterbrained, aspiring photographer Polly lands a job at a gallery run by the curator and painter Gabrielle. A strong connection builds between them as Polly idolizes Gabrielle’s artwork. However, as she gets to know her lover Mary, Polly realizes Gabrielle isn’t exactly who she appears to be.

The film probes questions around authenticity and art, and the theme of queer identity runs distinctly through the narrative. It also highlights the notions of queerness in the 1980s and in Canada, a state which had already granted queer people equal rights, protection, and benefits under the Canadian constitution in the early 1980s.

The film opened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987 the film won accolades across many film festivals. Watching the film 35 years later is different – but still poetic.