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Have you seen The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)?
Yes
No
Haven’t even heard of this movie
The secret of roan inish (1994)
Have you seen this movie?
Yes!
I've seen parts of it
No, but it's on my watchlist
No, but I've seen gifsets of it
No, but I've heard of it
No
The Outcasts (1983)
It’s easier to remain stagnant and ignorant than to pursue knowledge. Opening and closing on children huddled around a fire on a dark and stormy night, whispering about how the strange sounds on the wind are Scarf Michael coming to steal their souls, The Outcasts explores how stories and superstitions can be ways to spook one another or explain away strange happenings. But when generalized to daily life, it can bring more of a mob mentality. Quiet and mousey Maura has always been the subject of bullying and ire from others in her small farming community, but after rumors that she was consorting with some sort of dastardly fellow begin to spread, that aggravation with her differentness begins to become more poisonous. Factor in strange happenings with crop failures and death of livestock and family, and soon a dangerous fervor sweeps the community. Maura is targeted by a hateful, simple-minded, superstitious crowd. But unlike a Salem situation, well, they’re not totally, wholly wrong. She has been spending time with the magical fellow Scarf Michael. Though to be fair, his antics appear more on the level of messing with people who are already messing about and don’t want to be caught. Maura and Michael come to exemplify the pursuit of knowledge as a way to expand one’s horizons. But it’s not without its risks: to become truly experienced in the world is to pursue a sort of death. Maura may have great potential, greater than anything her family or community members might have believed in her, but that prospect still frightens her. Though one thing is for sure: maybe let’s workshop that whole busking gig a little more before just jumping in on it; the choreo could use a little polishing.
This has a certain quality to the nature of the storytelling as if the film were in a reverie. Interludes of natural imagery—trees and rocks and rain-dappled brooks—hint at the earthy, pagan roots of Scarf Michael, and brief perspective beats thrust the viewer into the shoes of Maura, giving a subjective and uncertain air to things that could be and yet are not. Michael does have a certain magic to him, vanishing from sight as he disrupts the attempted drowning of Maura, and visiting mischief upon nocturnal carousers, but the most profound magic is incited by Maura herself as she brings peace to a dying old man or experiences the totality of existence on the top of a cliff. Robert Wynne-Simmons was influenced by the work of William Blake, and indeed that poet’s specific mysticism bears its mark on the overall feel of the narrative.
THE RULES
SIP
Someone says 'God' or 'Scarf Michael'.
Voice-over narration begins.
Musicians start to play.
BIG DRINK
Maura messes around with a potato.
POV shot in a scene.
Currently Watching
THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH John Sayles Ireland-USA,1994
Title: The Secret of Kells
Rating: NR
Director: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
Cast: Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally, Liam Hourican, Paul Tylak, Michael McGrath, Paul Young, Nora Twomey, Alli McCann, Clair Funchion, Conor O'Halloran, Gaelle Hersent, Marie Thorhauge, Sean Lennon, Jonas Hoffmann
Release year: 2009
Genres: fantasy, adventure
Blurb: 12-year-old Brendan must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest, where dangerous mythical creatures hide.
The Secret of Kells (2009)
It’s unfortunate that The Secret of Kells came out the same year as Up. Any other year, it would've nabbed that Best Animated Film Oscar no contest. Oh well. It isn’t as if a statue - or lack of one - makes the film any different. This is a beautiful story just waiting to be discovered.
In the tightly-knit community at the Abbey of Kells, the monks toil night and day to create illuminated manuscripts while keeping an ear out for possible Viking attacks. Young Brendan (voiced by Evan McGuire) is fascinated with stories of Brother Aidan (Mick Lally), whose Book of Iona is unparalleled in beauty. His dreams of learning the craft are constantly squelched by his stern Uncle, Abbott Cellach (Brendan Gleeson), who cares only about building walls to repel invaders.
In a time where most animated films are rendered via computer, those created traditionally are a breath of fresh air. Even among those, The Secret of Kells stands out. It’ll sound silly to anyone who sees animated films as children’s fare but a scene where Vikings walk with lit torches fascinated me. How did they get the curves of the fire so perfect? How did they manage to portray the heat and threat of the invaders using those simple lines, curves and so few colors? There’s extra appeal in the way it tackles illuminated manuscripts, which were painstakingly created works of highly-detailed art the likes of which you just don’t see anymore. The film is drawn in a style of its own so when you get glimpses at the illuminated manuscripts, they dazzle. You don’t even have to know about the real-life Book of Kells - considered by many to be one of Ireland’s finest national treasures - to appreciate what you see. What it reminded me of most was The Thief and the Cobbler. Like it, The Secret of Kells is a clear passion project with the confidence to throw realism out the window when it needs to; everything is fair game as long as it furthers its agenda.
Story-wise, the film covers topics we just don’t see in North American cinema. It draws upon Celtic mythology and Irish folklore but also has its feet planted firmly in the real-life drama of a community that is perpetually afraid. Plus, your main character is essentially a monk in training, when was the last time you saw that? It isn’t this grand adventure but it has high stakes because of what you see. You want the book to be completed, for Brendan to be taught the ways of illumination. You also understand his uncle’s decision to forego such frivolities and focus on the incoming dangers. It has sophisticated emotions, the kind only present in the best animated films.
The Secret of Kells is a visual marvel whose unique story is sure to be enjoyed by both the young and old. It’s the kind of film illustrators will want to own on DVD so they can pause it and examine the characters, objects and backgrounds one frame at a time and incorporate elements into their own works. (on DVD, February 8, 2019)
