The Secret of Roan Inish
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Movie Reviews of The Secret of Roan Inish
Movie Review: A very nice movie for family
Summary: 5 Stars
We meet a precious young girl whose mother has unfortunately passed away at an early age. Another tragedy strikes when her younger brother, who is still a baby, disappears out to sea and is presumably drowned. And her father, upset at some of the difficulties that he has faced, elects to send the young girl, Fiona, to live with her grandparents.
The grandparents live in a rented small stone and thatched roof hut near the sea. The grandfather is a bright eyed, bearded, jolly and hopeful old man who tells Fiona stories of her ancestors and hints at the legend of the selkies, who are half human, half seal.
They are magical creatures that shed their seal skin and become human. Mysteriously, there is a dark haired, and dark eyed child in every generation of the girl's family and young Fiona begins to believe that this is somehow related to the legends that she has heard about the selkies.
Her relationship with her grandparents is temporarily disturbed when they face eviction so more upscale renters can move into their tiny home. And Fiona also angers and saddens her grandparents by claiming to dream about her disappeared younger brother.
Despite the problems that the family seems to face, the conclusion seems as satisfying as it can be.
It is refreshing to see a movie unveil a mystery and keep the viewers interest without resorting to shallow scenes of violence. Instead, the interest is held with intrigue, folklore, and the strength of family and tradition.
I won't spoil how the secret is unveiled or what happens. You would be better off seeing it unfold on screen.
I would hate to use the overused phrases such as "heart warming," "inspiring," "elevating," but that is what this movie is. You'll feel touched when you watch this movie. It's an excellent choice to sit down with your family and enjoy.
Movie Review: Mystical magical......
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this film and I am so pleased to see it finally released as a DVD. In frustration, I bought the soundtrack so I could at least listen to the beautiful music. This is a mystical tale from the British Isles. The tale could be Irish, Welsh, Scottish, or British--it's certainly Celtic.
A man discovers a seal is a "silkie" and one day when the silkie slips out of her skin, he captures her. Silkies are seals with human women inside. They shed their skin to lie in the sun. When they do, if you grab them before they can slip back into their skin they become your prisioner. All you have to do is keep the skin safely hidden and they can not escape.
After the man captures the silkie, he marries her and they have children. One day, the silkie figures out how to escape and return to the sea. Once in the sea she is lonely for her children. She wants to have her life in the sea and her children. This puts the children "at risk" from the land people's perspective.
The movie works on the premise that a little girl is visiting her relaives and the older man tells her the tale. The little girl being told the tale is descended from the Silkie. The lure of the sea is explained as the longing of former sea creatures for their mother.
Nothing happens to the little girl who is told the tale, but something does happen to one of her child relatives (Jamie?). This might frighten little children. It's a typical European fairy tale, and not everyone has the same fate. Even in Red Riding Hood someone is eaten by the Wolf. No one is eaten in this film, but the event that takes place might still be disturbing to an impressionable mind. I debated whether or not my grand children could watch the film, and I think if they are at least 8 or 9 it would be okay, though even the 9 year old said it bothered her.
Movie Review: Enchanting
Summary: 5 Stars
I know this film is marketed for children, but as an adult who watched it for the first time last night; I will be purchasing it and watching it again and again. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a film so much.
When a little Irish girl named Fiona moves to the country to be with her grandparents she learns tales about her family and their island, Roan Inish. The Island is now deserted, except when Fiona visits there she finds that may not be true. The secrets of Roan Inish are kept by the seals and the selkies that swim around in its waters.
Fiona learns about the selkies as part of an explanation as to why one 'dark one' (dark hair and eyes) appear in every generation of her family. Selkies are seals that can shed there skin and become human. They can roam the earth and live and love like normal people, however, they always long for the sea. If a selkie finds their skin, they will always return to the sea.
This movie isn't only about the seals and selkies, it's also about families and traditions, homes and histories, about finding lost loved ones and discovering new ones. Everything about this movie is wonderful; the scenery is breathtaking, the actors are amazing, the story imaginative and brilliant. This is a fanciful tale told in a factual manner, making it so real and tangible. After watching this movie, you will never see another seal without looking in its eyes wondering if it is a selkie. Children and adults will enjoy this tale that blends fantasy and reality so effortlessly.
Movie Review: AN ASTONISHING, MOVING PIECE OF CINEMA
Summary: 5 Stars
I love the opening comment by another reviewer - `John Sayles hit one out of the park with his THE SECRET OF ROAN INNISH'. That's putting it mildly - Sayles, who is well known and respected for his film work (PASSION FISH, BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET, MATEWAN, BABY IT'S YOU, RETURN OF THE SEACAUCUS SEVEN', et al) has made a film here that, for me, will be in my top twenty for all time category. When this film opened here in Austin, it stayed at the same theatre for months and months - and we saw it six or seven times during that period, never failing to be moved and entertained.The story of young Fiona and her little brother Jaime is one that, without any gratuitous violence or sexual content, will captivate and enthrall viewers of all ages. The setting, on an island off the Irish coast (transported from the Scottish equivalent in the original novel) is completely thrilling and beautiful. The power of the sea, the life of the people who draw their sustenance from it and from the land, the honesty and simplicity of the characters, the mystery and magic of old tales that might or might not be true (depending on your heart) - all of these elements are combined masterfully by Sayles, and wonderfully acted by his stunning cast. The director's love and respect for his story and characters - and for the rural Irish people and their way of life - is so very evident from this work.
I'm so glad to have this film on DVD - I've had the VHS version for years, and I knew that eventually I'd wear it out.
Movie Review: This is how a movie should be made.
Summary: 5 Stars
Quality in movie making is often judged by Hollywood glitz and flash, computer-generated special effects, high-dollar stars, and big budgets. This film has none of these things, therefore it is a perfectly excellent film.
"Roan Inish" brings to life the oral storytelling tradition of the Irish people. In what some in the literary field may term "magical realism," this film places the fantastic alongside the mundane, and though there are moments of revelation and surprise for the characters, these two seemingly separate worlds co-exist harmoniously. A prime example of this is the character of Tadhg, whom all but the film's star, little Fiona, believe to be "daft" due to his deep connection with his past, and his understanding of the selkie mythology of which that past is composed.
This movie accomplishes the telling of a complex story through the use of native Irish actors who seem to have a real feel for the storytelling tradition, as well as the use of simplistic special effects and magnificent camera work. It is a gentle, simple, yet fascinating tale of one little girl's dream of finding her lost brother, and the mysteries she uncovers in the quest. A better movie for the entire family has not been made. This is by far my favorite movie of all time.