Song of the Sea

Composite Score: 86.57

Starring: David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Lisa Hannigan, Fionnula Flanagan, Lucy O’Connell, Jon Kenny, Pat Shortt, Colm Ó’Snodaigh, and Liam Hourican

Director: Tomm Moore

Writers: Will Collins and Tomm Moore

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild peril, language, and pipe smoking images

Box Office: $4.23 million worldwide

My take on Watching This Film:

                Song of the Sea is Tomm Moore’s fairy tale/coming-of-age film about a boy and his sister who live with their father in a lighthouse but are forced to live in the city when his sister starts manifesting strange powers and venturing recklessly into the sea. The story is based on Irish folklore and features strong vocal performances from David Rawle and Brendan Gleeson. It follows Ben as he seeks to return his sister, Saoirse, to the sea when she falls sick from living in the city. On their adventure, they encounter a slew of mythical characters, like fairies (daoine sí), witches, and selkies, who need Saoirse to recover and sing the Song of the Sea to mend the rift between their worlds and send the mythical creatures back to their Otherworld. It’s a remarkably complex family film, exploring themes of grief, belonging, nature, and family as we follow these siblings on their quest to return “home”. The unique nature of the stories that inspired the film, like Tomm Moore’s other films (The Secret of Kells and Wolfwalkers), makes it a standout in the world of animation, along with its beautiful style, matched by those other films and Cartoon Saloon’s other film The Breadwinner. Not everyone will be in love with the whimsy of a semi-modern fairy story, so it might not necessarily be your cup of tea. However, anyone looking for an excellent coming-of-age tale that also has poignant themes and gorgeous animation will be hard pressed to find many films better than this one, cementing its place among the cinematic greats. You can currently rent this film on most streaming platforms if that sounds like something up your alley or if it even sounds like something you’re curious in watching. Its quick 93-minute runtime definitely makes it an easy watch.