“The world is more than what we see.”
synopsis
Cleveland Heep, a quiet apartment superintendent, discovers a mysterious young woman living in the swimming pool of his building. She reveals that she is a “narf,” a water nymph from a hidden world who must complete a dangerous journey back to her realm. Cleveland and the building’s eccentric residents gradually realize that they each play a role in a strange modern fairy tale—one involving mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and a deadly beast lurking nearby.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this unusual fantasy attempts to create a modern-day bedtime story set in an ordinary apartment complex. The film has moments of whimsy and visual beauty, and Paul Giamatti gives a gentle, sympathetic performance as Cleveland. However, the story’s mythology can feel overly complicated, and its earnest tone sometimes drifts into self-parody. Still, it remains one of Shyamalan’s more curious and divisive films.
A quiet evening and the patience for a strange, earnest fairy tale that doesn’t quite follow the usual rules.
Absurdist's Corner
In most apartment buildings, tenants argue about parking spaces and rent. In this one, they calmly gather to decode an ancient mythological prophecy involving a water nymph in the pool.
fun facts
Director M. Night Shyamalan wrote the story as a bedtime tale for his children.
Shyamalan appears in the film as a writer whose future work will influence the world.
The creatures in the film’s mythology—narfs, scrunts, and others—were invented specifically for the movie.