Song of the Sea is an Academy award-nominated animated film from Ireland directed by Tomm Moore. It is the follow-up to his 2009 debut The Secret of Kells, which combines hand-drawn 2D animation with Irish mythology to tell the story of a young apprentice called Brendan, who draws on the magic of nature to help scribe Cellach to finish the legendary illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Kells.
The new film follows Ben (voiced by David Rawle, best known for his role in Moone Boy), who lives in a lighthouse with his lonely father (Brendan Gleeson) and younger sister Saoirse. Though six years old, Saoirse has never uttered a word, much to Ben’s annoyance. When Ben and Saoirse are sent to live with their grandmother (Fionnula Flanagan), they begin to uncover Saoirse’s mystical connection with the sea.
Saoirse is visited by the spirit of her absent mother Bronagh (voiced by Lisa Hannigan), who presents her with a magical shell through which she can hear the “song of the sea”. Saoirse comes across a white coat among her mother’s possessions, which gives her the power to swim with the seals. She is a selkie – a mythological creature who is half-human and half-seal. Separated from the sea, Ben must help Saoirse to unlock her powers and unleash her voice.
It is easy to see the influence of Japanese anime and the legendary work of Studio Ghibli on Song of the Sea, but it is Tomm Moore’s stunning imagination and eye for detail that sets it apart from many of its competitors.
Since John Sayles’ The Secret of Roan Inish, selkies have proved a popular theme in Irish movies such as Song of the Sea and Neil Jordan’s Ondine. They are more a product of Scottish and Faroese tradition than Irish stories, and I look forward to Tomm Moore delving deeper into the rich tradition of Irish folklore in future films. Song of the Sea is a charming and visually arresting film which I strongly recommend.
