The Secret of Roan Inish

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As one of the most respected American independent filmmakers, John Sayles has created a body of work as distinguished in its diversity as for its consistent quality and inspiring originality. He's never been one to march to the commercial beat, but chooses instead to follow his creative impulse wherever it leads him. The Secret of Roan Inish led Sayles to the beautiful and moody West Coast of Ireland; it is a tale of a girl who discovers that her family has been touched by myth and magic throughout the years. Following the death of her mother, young Fiona (Jeni Courtney) is sent to live with her grandparents on the Irish coast across from Roan Inish, the island where her family once lived. She's told stories about the selkies--seals that can turn into humans--who have been connected with Fiona's family over the ages. At first she's not sure if the selkies are real or mythological, but she later realizes that they hold the key to reclaiming her family heritage.

What's remarkable about this film (which Sayles adapted from Rosalie Fry's novel Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry) is that it's not told as a cute fantasy for children, but as a straightforward, unsentimental story of a young girl's family history. That gives the film--which was beautifully photographed by master cinematographer Haskell Wexler--an understated charm that is completely absorbing in its atmosphere and subtle tone. There's magic as well, to be sure--you could almost swear that the seals and seagulls in the film took direction from Sayles as well as any human actor! --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

This is how a movie should be made........2007-08-15

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.

Delightful, magical, rare.......2007-08-03

Those three words pretty much sum up the entire film. Delightful for both adults (even those without kids), teenagers, and children alike. Magical in its setting, telling, and plot. Rare in its innocent, but complex and far from sugary tale.

Based on the novel, "The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry," this film is set in post-war Ireland it tells the tale of Fiona, a little girl with three older brothers and a widower father. Before WWII, the family had lived a pastoral life on the islands to the west of the mainland. Right before they were evacuated, Fiona's mother died, leaving a newborn brother behind. But as the family prepared to leave the island for good, Jamie, in his little cradle boat, was swept off the beach and into the waves in a freak storm. Fiona's father and brothers race in a row boat to find him, but the cradle is carried away at an unnatural speed and little Jamie is eventually lost in the storm.

And so the family goes to the mainland. Fiona and her brothers move to the city, where her father and brothers work in a laundry. With little time to care for her, her father sends Fiona to his parents on the coast.

It is from her grandparents and her cousin Eamon that Fiona hears the tales about her family, some taller than others. And so she is immersed in the mythology surrounding her family and the sea.

I won't say more. Suffice to say that seals and magic and going backward to go forward are involved. You'll have to watch it for yourself to see the real magic in it.

The cast is amazing, all Irish, if I'm not mistaken. Down to the last actor, they give good, solid, and believable performances. Many children's films are cursed by either bad acting or bad scripts, The Secret of Roan Inish has neither. And so it becomes more than a children's film. The magic is not the wave-of-the-wand kind, nor the kind that comes with a puff of smoke. It's the old kind of magic in fairy tales and legends.

I think I love this film because there are no "bad" parts; no parts I ever want to fast forward through or skip because they are cringe-inducing or "scary." I love every second of this film. And I think you will, too.

The Secret of Roan Inish.......2007-07-17

Set on the West Coast of Ireland in the late 1940s, John Sayles' splendid "Secret" tracks one youngster's attempt to uncover a mystery that sheds light both on her family's history and the fate of her little brother. This intimate, deliberately paced fable casts its spell gradually, but leaves you warm and satisfied. The film benefits from lush cinematography by Haskell Wexler, and first-rate turns from Jeni Courtney as Fiona and Mick Lally as kindly grandfather Hugh. If you love the water and believe in magic, watch this small gem of a movie by the director of "Lone Star" and "Matewan."

great buy for all ages.......2007-07-13

This is a great movies in the classic style. Your led into an irland at the ending of ww2 when jobs were in england and irland was safe, but dirt poor. The fairies and magicical story that comes out of no were and sweeps you away. Your caught up with it as if Tolkien himself was telling you this tale. No matter what your world is before you watch this tale,it will be much more enriched by the end credits.

A very nice movie for family.......2007-06-08

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.

Charlie Rose with Cynthia McFadden; Ariel Sharon; John Sayles (February 17, 1995)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Cynthia McFadden; Ariel Sharon; John Sayles (February 17, 1995)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Charlie Rose with Mario Van Peebles & Melvin Van Peebles; Ellen Barkin; John Sayles (March 15, 1995)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Mario Van Peebles & Melvin Van Peebles; Ellen Barkin; John Sayles (March 15, 1995)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

First, director Mario Van Peebles and his father, screenwriter Melvin Van Peebles, discuss making the movie, Black Panthers. Then, actress Ellen Barkin talks about her new film, Bad Company, co-starring Lawrence Fishburne. Finally, a discussion with actor and director John Sayles about his film The Secret of Roan Inish.

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