Mon, Aug 11th, 5:00 PM @ TCL CHINESE 6 THEATRE || #6
By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 08/02/25 – The Pearl Comb is a mystical and captivating period piece; the film is simply amazing with phenomenal acting. Set in 1893, the story revolves around a fisherman’s wife, played by Beatie Edney, who attracts attention not only because she is a woman doctor and healer, unheard of at that time, but also because she is the first person to cure someone of tuberculosis. A medical expert visits her to investigate and disprove the notion that a woman can excel in the medical field, but what he discovers is beyond his expectations.
Once upon a time, as all fairy tales begin, a fisherman and his wife live by the sea. The husband, Lutey, played by Simon Armstrong, heals his wife using herbs. One night, he goes out to forage for herbs, possibly witch hazel, while his wife suffers from what appears to be eczema. When he does not return, she sets out to find him. She discovers him asleep in a shed and assumes he has returned to drinking. He tells her a story about a siren trapped in a bay, who offers him help in exchange for the ability to cure people. She is captivated by his selflessness and kindness and proposes a trade: the ability to heal in exchange for his assistance in returning her to the ocean. As he carries her, she pricks him with a pearl comb, which he keeps. After he releases her into the water, she attempts to kill him, and in her fury, she curses him.
The wife, believing he has fallen back into drinking, is eventually cured by him. For nine years, he dedicates himself to healing people in their small town, attracting visitors from far and wide, even bringing a bunny back to life. Ironically, the medical miracle becomes recognized only when his wife inherits the ability to heal.
The film is written and directed by Ali Cook, who also plays the medical expert. It is well-made, showcasing a beautiful yet sinister siren, and features a mind-blowing ending. I loved this film and wish it were a full-length feature.
“The Pearl Comb” will screen at this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival. For tickets or more information, please visit Hollyshorts.com
