The Secret of Kells (2009) centers on the making of the real-life Book of Kells, the first illustrated bible, by artist-monks in medieval Ireland. As encroaching Vikings present an existential threat to the fortified town of Kells, finishing the book becomes a matter of keeping hope and beauty alive through art. The film’s hand-drawn 2D animation visuals are astonishing and painterly, mimicking the ornate style of the book’s illustrations. In addition to themes around creativity, faith, and security, much real history and lore around Ireland’s tension between paganism and Christianity is woven into the story.
It’s a magical, poetic, and surprisingly intense brew, with a concise story clocking in at a mere 1:16 runtime.
“The book that turns darkness into light” becomes a saving grace not just for the doomed town but for the main characters. Ultimately the film is about the power of art in dark times, more relevant than ever.
A short Little White Lies review calls the film “a feast for the eyes that manages to be both whimsical and sinister”.
This one on Film Folly is also good:
THE SECRET OF KELLS. Like Leafing Through a Manuscript
“The world of The Secret of Kells is populated by figures, symbols, and archetypes. At times, Moore almost erases the boundary between reality and the realm of abstract myth. This is especially evident in the sequence where Brendan sets out to retrieve a special crystal from the head of a giant serpent. It is difficult to say on what plane this scene takes place. Is it the boy’s imagination? The realm of legend? Or perhaps a symbolic space—a realm of ideas that form the foundation of our reality? Each possibility opens the door to rich interpretation.
The Secret of Kells employs a subdued, gentle color palette that lends the film an ascetic, meditative tone. Yet toward the end, Moore allows blood to be spilled and darkness to take hold. The director brutally destroys the world he has built.”