Film Review: The Secret of Kells

I hadn't heard of the film until it was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film of the 2010 Academy Awards. I watched the trailer and it looked interesting.

Premise: As the Vikings and other groups pillaged Europe, Irish monks protected, reproduced and illuminated many texts that would have otherwise been lost after the fall of Rome. This story is a fictionalised account of the the production of The Book of Kells, an illumination of the gospels. As the village of Kells continues fortifying itself against a potential Viking attack, refugees continue to pour in, including the master illuminator Brother Aiden. Brendan, nephew of the Abbot, always interested in the monks' illuminations, becomes etranced by the legends surrounding Aiden and does his best to help continue the completion of The Book of Iona ook, despite his uncle's commands that he should never leave the village to get supplies for the illuminators.

The film itself features top-notch quality animation and is especially bright and colourful. The story is straightforward and mostly without surprise, though the quality of the animation and music -which is, naturally, Celtic and excellent- drive the film forward. The character designs, too, are varied and interesting. While the brightness of much of the film may appeal to younger viewers, the scenes of Viking attacks are rather intense, even if there is no on-screen blood, as many people are killed. I would recommend this film to fans of animation and of fantasy, though if you are patient and do not mind the pace of the film (perhaps slower than some may enjoy, though I did not mind), I feel you may enjoy this as well. Overall, I would call this film highly original.

I GIVE IT
4.6 / 5