Movie Review: “The Secret of Kells”

“The Secret of Kells” is a beautifully envisioned animated film from Ireland.

Set during the time of the Viking invasion the story follows the adventures of young Brendan, an apprentice to his uncle the Abbott Cellach in a walled abbey. Brendan dreams of being an illuminator but is thwarted by his uncle’s obsession with reinforcing the walls of the Abbey against Viking invaders. Brendan finds himself in the company of refugee from the island of Iona, Father Aidan, who fosters the boy’s artistic gifts against the will of the Abbott. Encouraged by his new mentor, Brendan ventures outside the walls of the abbey and finds not only a new friend in the form of a fairy named Aisling, but danger in the form of Crom Cruach.

The characters are not particularly deeply explored, and they don’t need to be. This is a simple hero’s journey and coming of age story, the depth of which is appropriate for a 75 minute children’s movie and quite typical of the Irish hero tales. Where the movie goes beyond this theme is the commentary on Pagan vs. Christian Ireland. There is balance between the two and good and bad in both the pagan world outside the abbey and the Christian world within. The message is that faith of any flavor is what saves us, not walls and reinforcement and keeping what is frightening at bay. To make the Christian manuscript, Brendan needs the aid of pagan magic.

The real star here is the amazing artful animation. I heard or read a review at one point before I saw the movie that swore that the colorists made up new colors for this film. I believe they may have been correct. The amazing deep saturation of color is truly beautiful and makes a lovely setting for the simply story. Much of the background scenery of the film as well as the deeply saturated colors are inspired by the Book of Kells and other medieval illuminated manuscripts, making for a lush land it is quite easy to lose oneself in.

There are no plot twists here, no unexpected turns of event. Those are not needed here. This is a simple tale exquisitely realized. If you get an opportunity to see “The Secret of Kells” I highly recommend you do so.
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