Goldfish Memory

'Goldfish Memory' is a light, bright celebration of our hilarious tendency to learn nothing from experience. Like the goldfish with his 3-second memory, we plunge from one romantic disaster to the next, seemingly incapable of resisting the dizzy thrill of new romance whenever it comes our way. Focussing on a philandering German professor at Trinity College Dublin, who plies his female students with Rilke's poetry (possibly the most unlikely aphrodisiac in movie history - read some to help you sleep), the movie follows the misfortunes of an extended circle of related characters in a connected series of whirlwind romances. Hetero, bi or homosexual, some don't know who they are, one or two don't know where they are. This is Arthur Schnitzler's 'La Ronde' meets 'Love, Actually' and, with no pretensions to high art, is a colourful and poignant celebration of student life and love in the café and pub society of downtown Dublin, Europe's most fun city. Lead actress O'Shaugnessy is destined for great things.

This is an outstanding film, in every detail. It starts off leaving the viewer a little mixed up, with a mixing of different characters, but soon settles down as all the main actors start to come to life. By the end of the film all the main characters finally make decisions about important matters that affects the rest of their lives.

Ken Byrne makes his debut as a cinematographer, and should win "Rookie of the Year" honors, if there was such an award. His shots and locations, both inside and outside, are the best I have ever seen. I am a photographer, with 40 years experience, and have seen thousands of movies, but this one takes the cake.

Jean Butler, who we all remember from her leading role in Riverdance, makes her first appearance as just an actress, and does NOT dance at all. A wonderful film that only played in Ireland, but deserves a MUCH larger audience. Rent this movie, if you can!

I watched this movie about a year ago, and it was totally unexpected movie (in the good sense!). I didn't know what the film was about, and I wasn't sure what to expect about this film, probably I never had the DVD cover on my hands, or had the change to see the film release posters; and nobody recommended it . It deals with unusual facades of the most human demand: LOVE. The film is actually similar to "love actually", although this movie doesn't lose its Irishness. The film is full of interesting dialogs and lovely shots. The film normalizes non-heterosexual relationships, and problematize the condition of humans as love needed. This movie separates the characters from the sexual lives, to assume their social lives. It is an interesting approach!!

It is a funny, beautiful and sensible portray of post-modern relationships, full of amnesia, intensity, sophistication, and need of instantaneousness!!!

In Dublin Tom, a 40 something literature lecturer, tries it on with any of his female students that are gullible enough. His standard pickup line involves telling them about the reported shortness of a goldfish's memory. Supposedly its only three second which means that as the fish swims around its bowl, by the time it returns to where it started it's all new again and ready for discovery.

It's Irish whimsy like that that help him get into these girl's knickers. Clara, his latest conquest takes it badly when he moves on and she decides to try women. The woman she tries is Angie a newscaster. Meanwhile Angie's best mate is Red, a gay guy who works days as a bicycle messenger. Our cyclist has romantic issues of his own as he becomes smitten with David the hunky but straight bartender whose girlfriend is giving HIM grief...

Yes, it's a light hearted merry-go-round of romantic entanglements and while none of the stories are terribly touching or new, they are passably written and enjoyable. The characters are charming and pleasant to look at if none too deep.

If you liked the lecturer's goldfish line, this movie may be perfect for you. By the time it's over you may be able to start it again having forgotten these light and agreeable but none too memorable story lines.

Although this movie came recommended by some friends (and because of that it was a blind purchase), I must say I didn't get very excited from it. Yes, the movie is nicely shot, contains a few nice scenes, but overall I found it cheesy, tacky, and very predictable! Come to think of it.. the people who recommended it are the same who keep trying to convince me to go to Dublin, so I guess it's a nice movie for people who had a nice time in Dublin (another person here also commented on how nice Dublin looks in the movie).

So... although I was recommended to go see this movie, I advise people to see it only if they like Dublin and/or typical romcom's. Even my girlfriend (who is quite a romcom-addict) didn't like it too much. The more experienced/serious movie-addict will most likely be disappointed.

I give it 6/10, because it wasn't bad in an annoying way ;-).