Secret of Kells

Official site at: http://newvideo.com/secretofkells/
Nominated for an Academy Award in 2010 I got to see the film on Sunday.  It is the merging of a theory of the history of the Book of Kells with Irish mythology. But more than this, it is a gorgeous visual extravaganza celebrating nature, art, and passion. 

The actual Book of Kells contains the four gospels of the new testament, but its fame is derived from the beautiful illumination artwork that graces so many of its pages (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells and http://www.snake.net/people/paul/kells/).  This artwork informs the artwork of the movie itself.  

 The Irish mythology centers around Crom Cruach  (see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crom_Cruach) and Faerie. 

So there’s a great story and gorgeous art and then they add in things like the name of the cat Pangur Ban which is the name of an Old Irish poem written by a monk who owned a cat of the same name. 

Pangur Ban

I and Pangur Ban my cat,
Tis a like task we are at:
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.

Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur’s way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

‘Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
‘Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.

From — http://www.fisheaters.com/pangurban.html
It is available in the original language on the webpage along with a bit more on monks and cats.

This poem is read over the closing credits part way into said credits.

They also have the girl, Christen Mooney voicing Aisling (the fairy) sing the most haunting magical song.  See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTiSak8r9P8  or this one with subtitles in English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCnkanYUQMo&feature=related

Her name Aisling is the name of a type of Irish vision poem which features a female. see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisling 

This movie is going into the collection of Pagan Films. It is haunting and magical. It celebrates nature and knowledge, and it is full of wonder. 

Movie trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw2_HZTuQBE

And a fascinating interview with the director of the movie Tomm Moore at http://thefilmstage.com/2010/10/05/interview-tomm-moore-talks-the-secret-of-kells/