The Secret of Kells

Directed By: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
Screen Play By: Fabrice Ziolkowski
Story By: Tomm Moore
Produced By: Paul Young Didier Brunner Vivian Van Fleteren
Starring: Evan McGuire, Brendan Gleeson, Christen Mooney, Mick Lally, Michael McGrath, Liam Hourican, Paul Tylak, Paul Young
Edited By: Fabienne Alvarez-Giro
Music By: Bruno Coulais Kíla
Production Companies: Les Armateurs, Vivi Film, Cartoon Saloon, France 2 Cinéma
Release Dates: 30 January 2009 (Gérardmer Film Festival), 11 February 2009 (France/Belgium), 3 March 2009 (Ireland)

Plot: Set in 9th century Ireland, during the age of Viking expansion, the film’s protagonist is Brendan, a curious and brave boy living in the tightly knit Abbey of Kells under the care of his stern uncle, Abbot Cellach, who is obsessed with building a wall around the Abbey to prevent Viking attacks.

Apprenticed in the scriptorium of the monastery, Brendan hears the other monks talk of Brother Aidan, creator of the Book of Iona, and becomes curious about the mysterious illuminator and the book that "turns darkness into light" (the unfinished Book of Kells). Aidan arrives in Kells, accompanied by his white cat, Pangur Bán,[8] after his monastery at Iona is destroyed by a raid. After eavesdropping on a discussion between Cellach and Aidan, Brendan wanders into the scriptorium and finds the still-to-be-completed book guarded by Pangur Bán. Aidan arrives, and tells Brendan about the book.

Seeing Brendan as a suitable apprentice, Aidan sends him and Pangur Bán into the woods to obtain gall nuts to make ink. Cornered by a hungry pack of wolves, Brendan is saved by the fairy Aisling, who overcomes her initial suspicion and accepts Brendan after he reveals his intentions of helping to create the book.

After a close encounter with Crom Cruach, a deity of death and destruction of whom Aisling is deeply afraid, Brendan and Aisling return to the outskirts of the forest, and she assures him that he can return any time.

At the monastery, Brendan is reprimanded by Cellach, who forbids him to leave again. Continuing to work with Aidan, Brendan learns that the work is endangered by the loss of the ‘Eye of Colm Cille’, a special magnifying lens captured from Crom Cruach. When Brendan tries to visit Crom's cave to obtain another ‘Eye’, Cellach confines him to his room.

Review: This is a clever story about a brave medieval monk named Brendan, a sacred book, a storied monastery, a fairy girl, an alarming creature and a forest containing little nuts that make brilliant green inks. The focus and centre of the story is the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells is a beautiful and inquisitively illustrated manuscript that contains the four Gospels, a fragment of Hebrew names and the Eusbian canons. Sometimes it has been to as the Book of Co;imbian as is was created at some time between the seventh and eighth century in the monastary of Iona to honour the saint. Written in black, red, purple and yellow inks along with the comprising many decorative and beautiful illutrastion. The original manuscript is believed to have been created by two Columban monks. There is still debate over who they actually were.

Now the story begins when Brother Aidan (Mick Lally), accompanized by his cat Pangur Ban, arrives at Kells with news that the Vikings have destroyed the monastery at Iona. Brother Aiden is recognised as a renowned illuminator. Seeing Brendn's fscination with the book, he gives him the assignment to find some berries to make ink. Brendan is eager to accept the challenge, but need to first overcome his fear of venturing 0outside the safety of the walls. This is made all the more difficult as the Abbott had forbiden him from going into the forest. So he and Panger Ban must go in secret. After getting initially lost they meet a fairy named Aisling who rescues them. Together they explore the forest.

The rest of the story is for you to discover. There will be plenty of drama, neear esvcapes and personal growth as Brendan learns just how important his part in the Book of Kells history is. Well worth a family viewing.

M J Flack