Have you read a good-night-story recently? It doesn´t matter if by Grimm, from 1001 nights or any other... they all have one thing in common: partly they are pretty scary, have a message and try to tell us something. “Lady In The Water” by author and director M. Night Shyamalan is one of those stories that he had invented for his children.
The story: Cleveland Heep is the janitor of a block in Philadelphia and at first glance (and also at the second) a total average guy, and he doesn´t want anything more. His life is to be changed completely one day when he discovers somebody swimming in the block´s pool after dusk. Trying to get hold of this person he slips, loses consciousness and is about to drown. Regaining consciousness, he finds himself in his flat with a young woman sitting on his sofa. First he just tries to get rid of her quickly, but that isn´t that easy. Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) turns out to be a ”Narf” – a nymph who appears to be detained by evil beings in fulfilling her mission and in returning to her world. Cleveland learns more about Narfs and their possible fate via good-night-tales from Korea and decides to help her, whatever it might take. Her supernatural abilities show her the fates of Cleveland´s blockmates – and her fate depends on them. Only together they can decode a series of clues in order to free her. But time is running out for Story to return home, and the tenants risk their own lives to help her. Cleveland has to face his past and also all the tenants have to use those special abilities that Story wakes in each of them. This might be the only way to rescue Story´s Blue World... and our own.
The movie “Lady In The Water” Everything is kept simple. The whole movie takes place in a bock house, and there are no big names among the cast. The only castmembers familiar to me (which doesn´t say much) were Paul Giamatti (Paycheck, Saving Private Ryan) in the leading role of janitor Cleveland, M. Night Shyamalan (author and director) also playing an important side character here, and Bob Balaban (Mexican, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind) who appears as wonderful evil movie critic side character. This film doesn´t really need spectacular settings and big names because it´s a wonderful tale that appears more like a role playing game or more realistic being transported in our time. The “monsters” look like monsters look like in all movies (some remind you of Lord of the Rings), but as they are in minor functions it doesn´t really matter. Without those scary moments a rating for 6 year olds could have been nice, because this movie is weird, funny and cute without becoming a musical and getting on your nerves. Unfortunately some of the scenes don´t suit 6-year-olds but rather fit FSK 12. Let´s see. The movie suits adults, too, but might seem slightly too superficial. It doesn´t matter because it´s a fairy tale, and who liked Andersen´s little mermaid will also appreciate this movie.
The author - Manoj Night Shyamalan: Manoj Night Shyamalan (* 6. August 1970 in Pondicherry, India), real name Manoj Nelliyatu Shyamalan, is a US-American screen writer and director of Indian origin. He became famous with movies like The Sixth Sense, Signs and The Village.
Shyamalan grew up in Penn Valley near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after his parents had emigrated to the USA. His middle name “Night” is his own creation. Shyamalan is married with Bhavna since 1993 and has two children with her.
Shyamalan´s movies are characterized by unexpected twists (also called mindfucks), quite realistic Horror- and Science Fiction elements and peculiar camera angles.
Moreover, the director always appears in small roles in his own movies:
The Sixth Sense: Here he plays the doctor who talks with the mother after the incident at the birthday party.
Unbreakable: Here he plays the supposed drug dealer being held up at the stadion. Signs: Here he plays the ambulance driver.
The Village: Here he is the Head Ranger.
(Source of Shyamalan Facts: Wikipedia)
In “Lady In The Water” he plays a young author who is changed and inspired by meeting the nymph.
