Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'

Subject: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: CeltArctic
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 11:47 PM

I have been going over the story of this recent Shyamalan film. I have to admit it - despite the highly critical reviews - I quite enjoyed the film.

As a storyteller and ballad singer, I found I was really able to appreciate the folkie elements that were so integral to the story. I understand, from a limited Internet search earlier today, that the magical critters in the film were the creations of the director, who based the movie on a story he had written for his children.

My question to the group is: did Shyamalan base these creations on 'real' mythical creatures?

The Lady of the Water herself, called a Narf in the film, is very reminiscent of Selkies. She grows weak after long absence from water, and (most significantly) she can foretell the future.

The other creatures - "Scrunts" (dog-like vicious beings that can look like lumps of grass) and "Tartutics" (monkey-like beings hidden in the trees) - have mythic creature like qualities, but what they resemble, I don't know.

Any suggestions as to other potential links to folklore?

Moira

Subject: RE: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 11:57 PM

M. Night sucks.....

On his best day

Subject: RE: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: GUEST,Coyote Breath
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 01:31 AM

In spite of the troll-like snort from Hammond, did you like the film enough to see it again? We are terribly limited here (Rural Missouri)but it is showing this week and I would love to see a fantasy after a week of mideast insanity.

I haven't seen any reviews, critical or otherwise and really don't have a clue as to content or story

CB

Subject: RE: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: hesperis
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 02:12 AM

imdb reviews for Lady in the Water

Subject: RE: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: MAG
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:05 AM

The movie was marketed as a sort of horror film, which WAS a mistake, as it is almost a comedy.

The scene with the critic is alone almost worth the price of admission.

The Lady's name, Story, says it all. It's no accident she's a sort of muse to the character played by Shyamalan himself.

On balance, I liked it. Not Sixth Sense, but a fun night out.

Subject: RE: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:05 AM

Could she have been a Nart rather than a Narf?

Nart Sagas from the Caucasus

The stories are North Caucasian but perhaps they could have entered Armenian folklore for Shyamalan to pick them up from.

Subject: RE: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: CeltArctic
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 11:40 AM

Coyote Breath - yes, I will likely see it again. I thought it was interesting and entertaining. It did have some scary bits, but not enough to justify it being called a 'horror' film. And, like MAG points out, some of the comedic parts are priceless. It was satirical of the movie industry as a whole, which might possibly explain why so many reviewers are dismissing the film.

The Narf / Nart comparison is interesting. However, other than the character in the film being a powerful woman, she doesn't appear similar to Narts, as descibed in the link provided by Jack.

The 'hero', Cleaveland, gains his understanding of the mythology of Narfs from a Korean lady in one of the apartments. She's the one who provides the context to the tale. That made me wonder if the "Scrunts" and other critters might not have links to Asian folklore.

Still wondering...

Moira

Subject: RE: Folklore: re 'Lady in the Water'
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 11:56 AM

I was thinking of the story of Satanaya in Colarusso's book, who appears to be some sort of water sprite (at any rate, associated with water and streams in the legends).