"Mermaids"

I revisited an old favorite recently...MERMAIDS, with Cher, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci. It had been years since I'd watched this movie and now that I write YA, it was great to watch the story line as a writer.

The story takes place in 1963 in Massachusetts, when single mothers are looked down upon and President Kennedy is assassinated.

Cher is the abrasive, independent mother, who picks up and moves from state to state whenever life gets too tough. The latest move occurs after having an affair with her married boss. She doesn't let anyone get emotionally close to her or her girls, but enjoys male companionship.

Charlotte, the 18-year-old daugther who refers to her mother as Mrs. Flax, is embarrassed by her mother's actions. She doesn't want to turn out like Mrs. Flax and dives head first into the Catholic religion, vowing to become a nun (even though they are Jewish). With every "unholy" and natural attraction to an older man, she prays to God in humorous monologues. And while it's usually the mother who ends up in the wrong relationships, it's Charlotte who falls in love and doesn't understand her feelings. Even going as far as believing she becomes pregnant by a kiss!

The littlest one is Kate (Christina Ricci at a young age), a talented swimmer whose father was an Olympic swimmer, and Mrs. Flax and Charlotte dote on her. She is the bond that holds the the trio together.

Each character hits rock bottom with a terrible accident, and the viewer watches as they ultimately reveal their hidden truths and hopefully mend the family's hurt feelings again.

This movie has great family drama mixed with humor. You should definitely revisit this one or pick it up for the first time. :)

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