Films I'm Stoked For: "Song of the Sea"

Entry posted by Vorahk1Panrahk2 October 24, 2014

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(I can't link to the trailer and majhost won't let me upload a poster image, so go here to see the poster instead [google images link].)

Back in early 2010 when the Academy Award nominations were announced, there was one nomination in the “Best Animated Feature” category that threw some people for a loop: The Secret of Kells. A common reaction I saw to that was: “The Secret of What?” With it only screening at various festivals, and no more than 37 theaters in America (Boxofficemojo), it’s not too surprising that not many people here had heard of it. I only knew about it from looking at a list of eligible entries for the category, but didn’t really give it a second thought. About a year after that it returned to my thoughts for some reason, and I decided give it a watch not really knowing what to expect. To be honest, I was kind of nervous about it. This was before I got really interested in animated films so the weird style was kind of off putting.

But I was floored by it. Completely blown away. The story was simple but powerful in it’s sincerity and the art style of the film wasn’t distracting, but gorgeous. Almost every frame, and I mean that without hyperbole, is worthy of being printed, framed, and hung on the wall. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the director’s (Tomm Moore) next project, and this year, five years later, he’s delivering.

Song of the Sea, judging from the trailers, keeps intact the art style that made Kells such a mesmerizing film to watch, and like it explores elements of Irish mythology. In this case, Selkies- creatures who (from what I understand) naturally live as seals but can shed their skin to live on land as humans. The film’s synopsis indicates that the movie will be a sort of reverse Little Mermaid story, about a little girl Selkie who was born on land but wishes to return to her home in the sea. It sounds like a simple story, arguably much simpler than what Kells had to cover, but I have no doubt that Moore will make it emotionally resonant and incredibly gorgeous.

Admittedly that’s not a whole lot to go off of, and my excitement is entirely based on the one single film he’s made so far. Still, every film maker has to start somewhere, and Kells was a strong enough debut to make Moore a filmmaker to pay attention to. So far the film has debuted at two film festivals (TIFF and one in London) to positive reviews, and the ones I’ve read indicate that it’s a worthy followup to Kells. I have doubts that it will get a wide release here in America, and even if it does it probably won’t come around to my neck of the woods. But I’ll be buying the Blu-Ray the minute I can, because even if it’s half as good as Kells it will still be one of the finer film offerings this year, animation or otherwise.