Rating: PG (some scary scenes, but I would say it's still a good movie for children)
Run Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Summary(imdb.com): Ben, a young Irish boy, and his little sister Saoirse, a girl who can turn into a seal, go on an adventure to free the fairies and save the spirit world.
My Review:
Visually beautiful with moving music and a great plot, Song of the Sea captures the essence and beauty of the Selkie Legend.
What I loved most about this movie was the animation. Everything from the colors to the style make you want to continue watching, and the faerie world come to life! The underwater scenes are especially beautiful.
My favorite character in this movie is Saoirse (pronounced SEE-ur-SHA). Not only is she adorable, but she is also a magical selkie! She understands that everything has a purpose, and also loves her brother despite the rivalry. It's a truly magical moment when this little seal finds her white coat for the first time, which has a beautiful, ethereal glow.
I also love that this movie highlights the concept of family, from sibling jealousy to valuing love, even at a distance. Despite this being a cartoon, there are some deep emotional moments. At one point, Ben and Saoirse are forced to move away from their home and separated from Cu, their dog. This moment killed me because you can feel Cu and Ben's pain. The movie also shows how both negative and positive emotions are a part of life, and highlights the healing power of music. Listen to this beautiful song from the movie:
Because there is a strong Celtic accent, some may find this movie difficult to understand. The amount of mythology present in this story might also be hard for children or adults to follow, and the plot is sometimes very sad and emotionally raw.
I still loved this movie, and anybody interested in Irish mythology, including selkies, will love this movie! I give this movie (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie