The Secret of Kells

I saw the Academy-nominated animated film, The Secret of Kells, yesterday, and I can't resist adding my own praise to the already clamorous fray.  It's a Celtic tale about a young monk named Brendan who discovers that he has a gift for illuminating books - and later finds himself conscripted by an old sage to help finish the paintings for a treasured tome, The Book of Iona.  I won't give anything else away, because so much of the joy of this film is in its unfolding.  I will say that as a whole, it is a visual poem about creativity, belief, and self-actualization, and is a true hero's journey in the most Campbellian sense.  The plot and characters were delightful to be sure, but for me the real star of the show is the art direction.  In a world that's been dominated by the sleek, CG design of Pixar and the like, it's wonderful to see artfully stylized 2D characters and breath-taking, hand-painted backgrounds.  The entire film has an intoxicating, artisanal look to it, with loads of lines, doodles, and textures - quite fitting for a story about a young painter, and will be irresistible to art-lovers of any age.  The Secret of Kells is a must-see. 

Comments

[mlle. g.]

Fabulous! I was just reading about this film the other day - thanks for the review. It has jumped to the top of my must-see list.

[Mike McLaren]

I hadn't heard of this, but I do believe I will see it soon.