Anna Melikyan's film 'Mermaid' analyzed as modern fairy tale in ARTMargins roundtable

In her exploration of Anna Melikyan's 2009 film 'Mermaid' (Rusalka), Christine Goelz presents it as a modern fairy tale that challenges traditional narratives. The study emphasizes various cinematic elements—such as camera angles, editing styles, and Alisa's voice-over—that construct an enchanting realm where desires can be fulfilled, albeit with consequences. The film's visual style resembles that of television ads, with promotional phrases hinting at future events. Allusions to Astrid Lindgren's Karlson and Hans Christian Andersen's 'Little Mermaid' provide narrative context. Ultimately, Alisa's aspirations are dashed, culminating in her tragic death after a collision with a sports car. Goelz highlights the story's unreliable nature, employing point-of-view shots and an external narrator to foster false hopes. This analysis, part of a roundtable discussion, was published on ARTMargins Online on April 29, 2009.