I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing

Year: 1987

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

ComedyDrama

Polly, a scatter‑brained dreamer who longs to be a professional photographer, takes a secretarial job at Gabrielle’s sleek art gallery, idolizing the renowned artist’s talent. When Gabrielle rekindles a past romance with the younger painter Mary, Polly’s jealousy spikes, and she begins to uncover that Gabrielle’s polished façade hides secrets that contradict the image she has admired.

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Timeline & Setting – I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)

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Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:24

Main Characters – I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)

Meet the key characters of I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Polly Vandersma (Sheila McCarthy)

Polly is a temporary secretary and the film’s narrator, whose solitary life and whimsical fantasies drive much of the story. She lives alone, bicycle rides for photography, and struggles with social awkwardness and literal-mindedness that hinder steady employment. Despite clumsiness and low self-esteem, she clings to a hopeful, creative impulse and a quiet crush on Gabrielle. When she discovers the gallery’s deception, Polly experiences a painful mix of anger and disillusionment that fuels her emotional arc.

📷 Photographer 🧭 Introverted 💡 Creative 💘 Infatuation

Mary Joseph (Ann-Marie MacDonald)

Mary is Gabrielle’s former young lover and a painter who returns to the gallery, reigniting their relationship despite concerns about age and power. Her presence destabilizes the gallery dynamics and fuels the plot’s conflict over authorship and recognition. She becomes entangled in the deception when Gabrielle and Mary collaborate to pass off Mary’s work as Gabrielle’s. Mary’s artistic voice is central to the fraud and its emotional consequences.

🎨 Painter 💖 Romantic 🌀 Complex relationships

Gabrielle St. Peres (Paule Baillargeon)

Gabrielle runs the private art gallery and carries the pressure of aging and maintaining her reputation. She is wary of being eclipsed by younger talent and collaborates with Mary in a deception that aims to preserve status. Her relationship with Mary and her handling of Polly’s work reveal a morally ambiguous side, balancing charisma with calculated maneuvering. Gabrielle’s decisions drive the central conflict between integrity and appearance.

🎨 Gallery owner 💼 Ambitious 🤔 Morally ambiguous

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:24

Major Themes – I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)

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Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:24

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