Song of the Sea
by Birgit Schrumpf

Director:  Tomm Moore – Irland, Luxemburg, France, Belgium, Denmark

Little Ben's best treasure is a seashell given to him by his mother before she one day  just walks into the sea from where she had come. She is a half-human, half  seal, called a Selkie. Now, the  father lives on his own in the isolated lighthouse on a remote island with his  son and the six-year old mute little Saoirse. The two children are enchanted by  the song which Saoirse discovered by playing on the shell. Trouble starts when  their forceful grandmother takes them to Dublin. They don't like the city and  are missing the freedom of the sea.

Soon  they find a way of escaping and are embarking on a mystical adventure by  meeting ancient sea gods and fairies. Where does their mother come from? What  is the family mystery? This tale is told with a great understanding of the  children's needs and their dreams. It unfolds on different levels finding  parallels between the real and the phantasy. The weaving together of Celtic and  Irish folklore with ethereal musical arrangements adds a dreamlike touch.

It is a pleasure to watch the carefully hand-drawn and watercolor-painted  scenes with their distinct texture. The Irish director Tomm Moore with screen  writer Will Collins and artistic director Adrien Merigeau have created a truly  poetic multimedia experience. Song of the  Sea was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar this year. It is  truly a work of art which can be enjoyed by children as well as adults.