(Brief) Review: The Secret of Kells

I cannot describe this movie to you, and that's the beauty of it. I could skim over the surface of what it's about—Irish history, Irish mythology, art, fear—but that would not encapsulate this film.

Because this is a story that could not be told in this way in any other medium. Not with computer animation; not with live actors; not on paper, whether black inked or four-colored. This story needed the warmth and vibrance of hand-drawn pictures, the abstracted art direction, the haunting visuals. This was a story that had to be told through pictures first, with the sound only there to supplement what your eyes were taking in.

It is about the Book of Kells, yes; and about a boy, and a girl, and two old men. It's about the Northmen and the magic of Ireland. But it's more than those, and it's not those the way you'd expect. This isn't the light whipped-cream, unflavored-meringue version of Ireland American wants you to digest. This is more honest than that, and more amazing. Never has a cartoon had to do so little work to make me cry.

The Secret of Kells gets five out of five haunting visuals. This is an arthouse film, and I saw it near the end of its run at the Aquarius, so it may be hard to find before it comes out on DVD. But if you get a chance to watch it, do so; you will not be disappointed. I almost promise.