Review - The Secret of Kells
Ancient Celtic legends mix with wonderfully lush animation to give you one of the finest hand drawn animated films in recent years.
Ireland of the 9th Century; a land awash in the mists of legend and mystery, a land of saints and scholars, a land living under the ever present threat the Norsemen. The Secret of Kells takes us to the monastic settlement of Kells and to young Brendan (Evan McGuire), an aspiring illustrator who is kept under watch by his stern uncle, the Abbot Cellach (Brendan Gleeson). While Brendan dreams of illuminating texts with his talent the threat of Viking incursion shifts his yearning ambitions away from art to building a large wall that surrounds the Abbey. The sudden arrival of the legendry artist Brother Adiain (Mick Lally) from Iona brings the spark that ignites the young boys’ passion for drawing much to the resentment of Cellach. While on a secret quest in the forest rummaging for berries that produce the special emerald ink, Brendan encounters Aisling (Christen Mooney), a youthful mystic spirit creature who shows him the beauties of the world that he is shut away from. Over time he hones his skill in secret in order to complete the Book of Kells in time before the Vikings attack.
Released amid a torrent of computer animated and 3D feature films, The Secret of Kells has had a lot of competition in the market though it has garnered more recognition due to its Oscar Nomination earlier this year. To have been nominated alongside Up and Fantastic Mr Fox is testament to the quality of the production. Although not raking in the millions of dollars that the aforementioned films have received this Irish/French collaboration, joint directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, has been making waves amongst critical circles on both sides of the Atlantic and deserves more public recognition that should come along with its wider distribution on DVD.
The animation is beautifully minimalistic, evocative of the style of Genndy Tartosovsky (Samuri Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars). Yet within this minimalism lies the extraordinary fine detail that texturises the colour and the background; the animators keen to echo the beautiful illustrations that lie within the pages of the actual Book of Kells. The characters feel like they have been lifted from medieval manuscripts. Even the towering forests are reminiscent of gothic pointed arches. One of the showcase animation sequences comes midway through the film during Brendan’s expedition into the dark cave of the Crom Cruach (a pagan deity that was associated with human sacrifice in pre Christian Ireland). Here he falls into a magnificently rendered psychedelic sequence that makes use of Celtic iconography and mythical creatures. The Vikings are especially frightening being depicted as demonic, sub natural, part human, part bovine creatures of immense strength and power.
Honourable mention has to be given to the first time vocal performances of Evan McGuire and Christen Mooney performing as Brendan and Aisling who bring their young characters to life with great spirit and energy. Brendan Glesson counters their vibrance with his uncompromising vocal depiction of Abbot Cellach. In one of his last performing role the late Mick Lally gives a wonderfully warm and inviting performance as the wise old sage Brother Aidain. On a musical note it was not surprising that the filmmakers chose to use Irish traditional music to spice up the feature and who better to provide that spice than legendry folk group Kila in collaboration with composer Bruno Coulais. Kila have reinvigorating the trad-music scene in Ireland for the past twenty years and add their unique whirlwind style of music seamlessly to the animation.
Overall The Secret of Kells is a beautifully crafted magical tale that will excite and thrill viewers both young and old offering a tale that is a welcome departure from standard Hollywood fare. The Secret of Kells proves that indeed hand drawn animation is still here and has a voice. If this film whets your appetite for ancient illuminated biblical texts then make a trip to Dublin where the actual Book of Kells resides in the Old Library of Trinity College; one of the most visited tourist attractions in Ireland.