SONG OF THE SEA

Music to our ears

released OUT NOW! 2015 | U | Blu-ray/dVd

Director Tomm Moore

Cast david rawle, lucy O’Connell,

Brendan Gleeson, lisa Hannigan

Heartbroken that Hayao Miyazaki has retired? Then check out the work of Tomm Moore and Cartoon Saloon. Their latest, Song Of The Sea, blends traditional folktales, a magical world just beyond our own and soulful hand-drawn animation in a way that’s reminiscent of Ghibli’s greatest creations.

Ben and Saoirse are young siblings who live by the sea. But Saoirse is special – she’s a selkie who transforms into a seal in water, just like her missing mother. Fearing that Saoirse will one day disappear too, dad sends the kids inland to live with their grandma. But when Saoirse gets sick, brother and sister embark on an epic voyage across the Irish countryside, crossing paths with faerie folk and a misguided witch who turns people into stone.

Enchanting from its opening moments, Song Of The Sea is a cross-generational gem. It tells a touching tale about the bond between a brother and sister and the importance of accepting sadness as part of the grieving process, but does so by blurring the lines between our world and a mythical landscape rooted in Ireland’s heritage. The way the film’s legendary characters mirror the everyday characters and their journeys is wonderfully imaginative, and as a whole it’s beautifully constructed.

Top-notch vocal performances and exemplary music also prove crucial in a film where sound is just as important as visuals and plot. Unmissable.

Extras A commentary; “Art Of”; three minutes of behind-thescenes footage; short animation tests; trailer. Jordan Farley

The film is enchanting from its opening

Try and keep a close eye on Saoirse’s shadow – it doesn’t always appear to be entirely human…