The Seventh Stream (2001)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

For a TV movie, this is a real winner.Gorgeous scenery, touching romance, examination of the avarice and evil of human nature and our redeeming qualities are all on offer. Bring your crying towel, because this will move you, and it is a romantic tragedy. The cinematography is way above average for TV fare. If you like water scenes and boats, like I do, you're in for a treat, but don't expect lavish yachts. No, this is a tale set in a simple and beautiful Irish fishing village with men who wrest their living from the sea.It has above average acting for TV, and I disagree with some of the other reviewers who have said that Scott Glenn didn't deliver. To the contrary, I thought his portrayal of a stricken widower deprived of his raison d'etre who we first see as a near recluse from society and then emerging from his hard shell of pain was very effective.I own this on VHS, and I love it more every time I watch it. It's a rare find, but if you do run across it, do yourself a favor and give it a watch if you go in for romantic tragedies.

The plot, characters and location really made me sit through the movie. The scenes of Ireland's landscape, cottages, ocean and people were depicted wonderfully. The harness of their work as a fishing town opened the movie as the minister prayed for the return of the fish. There was definitely chemistry. And guess what, though there were underlying hints of more it was never revealed and did not take away from the movie. It is a love story bundled with grief, pain, hurt, magic, betrayal and then unselfish sacrifice. It pulls at the heart strings. When I speak of magic or legend this is what makes the movie interesting as we all learn the story of how, when and consequences of returning or not...cannot give away too much. So watch the movie.

SPOILERS - This film, "The Seventh Stream" is a throwback to a slower kind of movie with good character development and a fine story which unfolds unfailingly and gradually. It is set on the Irish coast, and is a fairy tale on the myth that certain seals, during occasional weather patterns which result in a "seventh stream", can come out of their skins and assume human form. Scott Glen, an American, plays the central human character, fisherman Quinn, who had lost his wife at sea 5 years ago. The seal turned woman is played by British actress Saffron Burrows.As fate would have it, a selfish and uncaring fisherman finds her skin and brings it to his home. Legend has it that she belongs to him, as long as he has the skin. And, she cannot return to the sea unless she can get her skin back. Suddenly, he is catching boatloads of fish as others try to just keep from starving. But she and others realize he is not a good man. His blind father, keeper of the myths, realizes that and moves the skin to Quinn's property, so she goes to be with him, not quite realizing why. The story in the end is one which has been done often. Is it better to be safe and unfulfilled, or risk everything for a better life? "Chicken Run." "The Truman Show." "Pleasantville". Plus many others. By the time she gets her skin back, she has experienced human life, what it means to have memories, love, and happiness. She wants to stay with Quinn, knowing if she does that she must die shortly. Quinn loves her too, and cannot just watch her die. So, when the Seventh Stream is about to return, he takes her out to sea. In the end, fate must prevail. She returns to the sea, he has regained his zest for life, and the fishing is good. A sweet story, not too syrupy, great scenery, great craggy faces, overall a good telling of a fairy tale.

In the past the Hallmark Hall of Fame was known for quality television. In recent years, for whatever reason, they've been putting out barely adequate efforts. This is no exception.In this one, Scott Glenn is badly miscast as a fisherman in 1909 Ireland who is still grieving for his dead wife after 5 years. Saffron Burrows is a silkie: a woman on land, a seal in the water. John Lynch plays the requisite villain, who holds her pelt (don't ask), thus keeping her on land, and helping him catch the most fish. It's pretty much by the numbers and nothing will surprise you.You know a made-for-television movie is in trouble when the highlights are the commercial breaks. Sadly, with recent Hallmark productions, this has definitely been the case. If they took as much time and care with their movies as they do with their commercials, people would still be talking about Hallmark movies the way they used to do.