The Mermaid Chair (film)

The Mermaid Chair is a 2006 American made-for-television drama film based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. The film stars Kim Basinger as Jessie Sullivan, a married woman who returns to her childhood home on Egret Island, South Carolina, to care for her mentally ill mother, who has taken refuge in a convent.

The story explores themes of faith, family secrets, and repressed emotions. Jessie's return triggers a journey of self-discovery as she uncovers long-held family secrets and grapples with her feelings towards a Benedictine monk named Brother Thomas, played by Alex Carter. The convent, with its legends and the story of Jessie's ancestor who believed herself to be a mermaid, serves as a backdrop for Jessie's emotional and spiritual awakening.

The film was directed by Steven Schachter and aired on Lifetime. Critical reception was mixed, with some praising Basinger's performance and the evocative atmosphere, while others criticized the adaptation for simplifying the novel's complex themes and relationships.