Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing

A confident and mature work based on the classic novel by May Sarton. I saw this movie at the Miami Gay/Lesbian film fest, and it was wonderful.

I was completely captivated by this unhurried tale of the growth and development of an artist. The main character, a poet, prepares for an interview with critics and in the process relives pivotal scenes from a full and fascinating life. Starting with her privileged childhood, the film invites us to watch an artist at work, sacrificing easy comfort for hard truths and foregoing security as an adult in order to live a life without compromise. All the while, we see the effect this has on her work, how an artist makes art from life. Really a fascinating and challenging film. What a pleasure to watch a movie made by grown-ups, for grown-ups.