Susan Granger’s review of “The Secret of Kells” (GKIDS distribution)
Few American moviegoers had ever heard of this Irish-French-Belgian co-production until it was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Feature, squeezing out “Ponyo,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” “Cloud With a Chance of Meatballs” and “A Christmas Carol.” Once you see it, you’ll realize why.
Set in medieval Ireland, the story centers on curious, creative Brendan (voiced by Evan McGuire), a young, orphaned novice at the remote Abbey of Kells. He loves helping the monks in the scriptorium as they illustrate the gospels. But his stern uncle, the Abbot Cellach (voiced by Brendan Gleeson), wishes he would expend his energy on erecting a giant wall to ward off the marauding Viking barbarians. Yet when an elderly, renowned Scottish calligrapher, Brother Aiden (voiced by Mick Lally), arrives at the monastery with his cat Pangur Ban, fleeing from the besieged monastery at Iona and bearing an unfinished manuscript that’s supposed to contain the power to turn darkness into light, Brendan sneaks out into the forbidden woods with Pangur to find berries from the oak tree to make green ink for the illustrations. It’s a dangerous quest since the forest is believed to be filled with demons. Enchantment reigns as Brandon’s befriended by the fairy Aisling (voiced by Christen Mooney), a mysterious white wolf-sprite, and eventually able to prove that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil.
Some refer to this illuminated Celtic manuscript as The Book of Columbia, because it was created some time at the end of the seventh or beginning of the eighth century, and contains the Four Gospels in Latin and the Eusebian canons. The real-life treasured relic on display at Trinity College in Dublin.
Created for $8 million by first-time feature directors Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey and writer Frabrice Ziolkowski, this Irish treat won the top audience award at the 2009 Edinburgh Film Festival with its lavishly ornate, hand-drawn, highly-stylized, two-dimensional animation, filled with traditional Celtic crosses.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Secret of Kells” is a stunning 9, melding history and mythology with faith.
