A change of pace from filmmaker John Sayles, better known for realistic dramas, this is a lush, allegorical fairy tale filmed in Ireland. "Roan Inish" means "Seal Island" in Gaelic, and the film revolves around a young girl's search for her infant brother, who, many years before, was
swept out to sea in his cradle. Encouraged by tales she's heard from her grandfather, she believes the boy has been raised under the ocean by mysterious mer-creatures called selkies. Darkly lyrical and imbued with a genuine sense of magic, ROAN INISH has the haunted quality of Irish folk music.
It's family entertainment in the best sense of the term.
Released:
1995
Rated:
PG
Length:
102 mins