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The Secret of Kells
2009 79 min Ireland, France, Belgium 0+
★8.2
Animation, Family, Fantasy
Director: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Adventure awaits 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest?
Budget:
$8M
US Gross:
$676,775
Worldwide:
$1.8M
Starring
Evan McGuire
Actor
Brendan Gleeson
Actor
Mick Lally
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2010
— Best Animated Feature
European Film Awards 2009
— Best Animated Feature
Key opinion
The Secret of Kells is widely praised for its unique, ornamental visual style that draws on medieval art and Celtic mythology. While the film is celebrated as a deeply symbolic and artistic achievement, it divides opinion regarding its historical and theological accuracy, as well as its suitability for audiences expecting a more traditional narrative structure.
| Production | The hand-drawn, ornate aesthetic successfully translates medieval illumination into a fluid, cinematic language. | |
| Score | Bruno Coulais's score provides an essential, atmospheric foundation that captures the film's tense and mystical tone. | |
| Theme | The film acts as an immersive allegory, using the creation of the Book of Kells to explore the power of creativity as a light against darkness. | |
| Adaptation | The narrative's blend of Christian and pagan elements draws criticism for historical and theological inaccuracies, being viewed by some as superficial or confusing. | |
| Originality | The stylized, geometric animation delights those seeking artistic innovation, while others find it jarring or insufficiently detailed compared to mainstream studio work. | |
| Pacing | The deliberate, meditative pacing is appreciated for building atmosphere, though some viewers find the storytelling too slow or structurally uneven. |