The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)

Young Fiona lives with her grandparents in a small fishing village where she takes an active role to unravel the mysterious secrets.

Director:

John Sayles

Writers:

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

Stars:

Jeni Courtney, Eileen Colgan, Mick Lally

1 win & 9 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.

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Plot Keywords:

mermaid | ireland | based on book | f rated | boy nudity | 

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Taglines:

The secret's out!

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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:

Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$6,101,600

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

Fiona: Why does he run from me?
Tadhg: Why do you chase him?
Tadhg: He's my little brother! He's lost out there!
Tadhg: He's not lost... he's just with another branch of the family.

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Connections

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

User Reviews

charming and magical

I saw this listed in TV guide, and watched it because the description made me imagine it would be a simple, charming movie. I didn't realize it was a John Sayles movie until I saw his name on the credits and then I thought it might be something different; I don't associate Sayles with simple family movies. But in fact, this is pretty much the movie I was hoping for, full of Irish charm and blarney, beautiful filmed and full of magic and wonder. One hesitates to call it a children's movie or a family movie because those are generally awful, but it is very much the sort of movie that is perfect to take the family too (although it is unaccountably rated PG). But it's not *just* a kid's movie, it's a movie with magic for anyone, and I would put it in the same category as Alfonso Cuarón's A Little Princess, another movie that treats children not in the Disney aren't-they-cute way but as real thinking individuals. This is a lovely drama featuring a child rather than a kid's movie, but it works on either level.