This film was originally received as a flop in the U.S. - one of Truffaut's lesser works. A recent restoration of 13 minutes of footage had garnered some accolades from critics on the film festival circuit, but after just having seen the film on video I was disappointed. I felt as if i had been watching a spoof of Hitchcock and American Film Noir at best. It was from this perspective that I tried to enjoy this foreign film as an American, but found little enchantment. The only two reasons I hung on until the end: Catherine Deneuve and to possibly see if something utterly surprising would happen. I was too patient. Some have said that this film poignantly explored the heart ache of love between two people who are wrong for each other but I can't help but wonder if Truffaut was trying to be funny.
Review of Mississippi Mermaid
