The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)

10-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland. She soon learns the local legend that an ancestor of hers married a Selkie - a seal ... See full summary »

Director:

John Sayles

Writers:

Rosalie K. Fry (book), John Sayles (screenplay)

Stars:

Jeni Courtney, Pat Slowey, Mick Lally

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeni Courtney	...	Fiona
Pat Slowey	...	Priest
Dave Duffy	...	Jim
Declan Hannigan	...	Oldest brother
Mairéad Ní Ghallchóir	...	Barmaid
Eugene McHugh	...	Bar Patron 1
Tony Rubini	...	Bar Patron 2
Mick Lally	...	Hugh
Eileen Colgan	...	Tess
Richard Sheridan	...	Eamon
Micheal MacCarthaigh	...	Schoolmaster
Fergal McElherron	...	Sean Michael
Brendan Conroy	...	Flynn
John Lynch	...	Tadhg
Frankie McCafferty	...	Tim

Storyline

10-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland. She soon learns the local legend that an ancestor of hers married a Selkie - a seal who can turn into a human. Years earlier, her baby brother washed out to sea in a cradle shaped like a boat; someone in the family believes the boy is being raised by the seals. Then Fiona catches sight of a naked little boy on the abandoned Isle of Roan Inish and takes an active role in uncovering The Secret of Roan Inish. Written by John Oswalt. Modified by Nancy Janelle.

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Plot Keywords:

seal | ireland | selkie | family relationships | island | 

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Taglines:

Between land and sea there is a place where myths are real.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some moments that may be disquieting to small children

Details

Country:

USA Ireland

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

3 February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le secret de Roan Inish

Filming Locations:

County Donegal, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$6,101,600 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jones Entertainment Group, Skerry Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Stereo)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the storm on Roan Inish, there is a shot of the rocks holding down the roof moving quite a bit from the force of the wind. However, the rocks in the background of the cottage next door are absolutely still suggesting that the storm is completely man-made and the crew only had the wind machines on the one cottage.

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Quotes

Tess: Stuperstitious old man!
[goes to the fireplace to put out the peat-fire]
Tess: I rake this fire as the pure Christ rakes us all... with Mary at the foot and Brigid at the head. And may the eight brightest angels from the City of Grace preserve this house and all its people till the coming of the day.
[Crosses herself]

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Connections

Featured in The Oprah Winfrey Show: Summer Movie Reviews (1996)

User Reviews

A good story well told

I loved this movie. While this was not a movie specifically made for a young audience (by that I mean, it's not a "kid flick,") this is a great family film. If you give your kids a chance to love an intelligent film, they will. This story is told so vividly, so beautifully, that it held my 6 and 9 year old daughters rapt in spite of the fact that it did not resemble a Disney Channel video.

Anyone who can appreciate folklore tales should love this movie. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking, the script well written, the actors all wholly believable. I could watch it again and again.