Ajyal Film Festival 2024

All Films

Song of the Sea

Mohaq - ages 8+

Tomm Moore / Feature Narrative / Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, France / 2014 / 93 min / Colour / DCP
In English, Gaelic / Arabic, English subtitles
Interests: Animation, Fantasy, Family
MENA Premiere
Rated: Parental guidance is advised. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.

Synopsis

Six-year-old Saoirse and her older brother live in a lighthouse with their father, who is distraught over the loss of his wife, who disappeared several years earlier. Saoirse does not speak, but when she discovers a shell flute that belonged to her mother, she produces spellbinding music that becomes her main means of communication. Little does she knows that the shell is also a key to enter a magical and mysterious world.
After ‘The Secret of Kells’ – a fictionalised account of the creation of the ‘Book of Kells’, the illuminated manuscript of the Bible that is an Irish national treasure – Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Tomm Moore delves again into his Irish roots to deliver a dazzling hand-drawn film inspired by the legend of the selkies, enchanted creatures who live as seals in the water and as humans on land. Lush visuals, luminescent with a keen sense of light, landscape and atmosphere, illustrate this gorgeously crafted animation, which recalls the style of Pictish stone carvings. With its haunting soundtrack and lovely story, ‘Song of the Sea’ is a beautiful art work, bound to delight children and adults alike.

About the Directors

Tomm Moore was born in Newry, Northern Ireland, and studied animation at Ballyfermot College in Dublin. He co-founded the animation studio Cartoon Saloon, and has written, produced, animated and directed short films and commercials. In 2009 he co-directed the animated feature ‘The Secret of Kells’, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Credits

Director
Tomm Moore
Screenwriter
Will Collins
Producer
Tomm Moore, Ross Murray, Paul Young, Stephan Roelants, Serge Umé, Marc Umé, Isabelle Truc, Clément Calvet, Jérémie Fajner, Frederik Villumsen, Claus Toksvig Kjaer
Editor
Darragh Byrne
Music
Bruno Coulais, Kíla
Sales Company
WestEnd Films
Production Company
Melusine Productions, The Big Farm, Superprod, Nørlum, Cartoon Saloon
Cast
Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, Liam Hourican, Colm Ó’Snodaigh, Lucy O’Connell, Kevin Swierszcz, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan

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