I can clearly understand why this piece of beauty has some wins at different festivals. Mariya Shalayeva's play is the reason number one. Then comes the story itself with some curves you woudn't predict. Plenty of little things like short dialogs, phrases, and situations you would simply laugh at. The moon-selling guy as an epitome of what our world has become.Some people say the ending could be better. I disagree. Mermaid Alica has no place in this human mess and therefore shoud not be a part of it. That simple. And she obviously has a better option. Her smile at the end is a proof ))

Perhaps 'twee' is to Russian films what 'quirky' is to American. Either way it's a sickly confection that demands nothing from its audience other than it checks its brain at the door. One of the most narcissistically irritating heroines since the repulsive Amelie is able to do stuff for some reason. That the role is played by such an unappealing actress doesn't much help but it could have been Hepburn and it wouldn't have survived the director's insistent 'look at me' style and the archness that sucks out whatever life there might have been in the story leaving behind nothing but pretty-pretty photography.This story was much better done in the 50s in Giraudoux's play Undine which, in fact, introduced Audrey Hepburn in the West End.

This was among my four highest favorites of the 36 films I saw at this years Palm Springs International Film Festival. This film won the Directing Award and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, both in the World Cinema-Dramatic category at last years Sundance Film Festival. It's an amazing film for a feature film sophomore release by writer/director Anna Melikyan. This is the story of Alisa (Anastasiya Dontsova as little girl Alisa and Mariya Shalayeva as young woman Alisa) who grows up in a seaside fishing village with her mother (Mariya Sokova) and her grandmother (Albina Yevtushevskaya). Alisa is the product of very brief affair between her mother and a sailor. The sailor returns to his ship and the seas and out of their lives forever and Alisa longs for the return of the father she never knew. Alisa also longs to be a ballerina but when she is denied she takes a vow of silence to never speak again. This results in her being sent to a special needs school where she excels and develops what she believes is the power to make certain wishes come true. As an adult she heads to Moscow where she saves a handsome and wealthy burnt out real estate salesman from suicide. Now she must compete for his affection. Beautiful photography from cinematographer Oleg Kirichenko and art direction from Ulyna Ryabova with an excellent original music score from Igor Vdovin who all like director Melikyan are relatively new to feature film-making. Great casting with superb acting performances especially from Shalayeva as the older Alisa, who at 25 when this was filmed doesn't look nearly that old, and from the equally charming Dontsova as the younger Alisa. This film is a dramatic comedy with a lot of comedy blended with fable-like fantasy and color. This is quirky, bright, fun, smart, imaginative and innovative story and storytelling. There are a couple of dark scenes, one stunning and numbing scene in particular through great film-making where you anticipate what may happen but when it does happen it's not what you expected at all. This is a great film and I would recommend it and give it a 10 out of 10.

This film is one more must see Film! I saw trailer few month before and realized that it could be a good film. So it started from 22 Nov in the Ukraine's cinema. This film type is Drama but there are lot of fun issues and new ideas. I was impressed as Mariya Shalayeva play Alisa and as you can see from awards list she won 'Best Actress' award at Sochi. I'm skeptic to the Russian films but this is one more film after which I had impression for the next 2 days. I want to write about this now! It exceed my expectations! I recommend this film for any people ages except children's! And I'm waiting next films from Mariya Shalayeva and Anna Melikyan. I hope they will be great too!