The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)

98% of critics liked it
(41 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(6,629 ratings)

The magic of folklore forms the basis of this Irish tale by writer-director John Sayles. Adapted from the book Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry, the 1940s story is told from the point-of-view of Fiona (Jeni Courtney), a young girl sent to live with her grandparents in an Irish fishing town. Her… More The magic of folklore forms the basis of this Irish tale by writer-director John Sayles. Adapted from the book Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry, the 1940s story is told from the point-of-view of Fiona (Jeni Courtney), a young girl sent to live with her grandparents in an Irish fishing town. Her grandfather weaves grand stories about the family's evacuation from their home on the tiny island of Roan Inish and about his great-great grandfather, who once cheated death at the hands of the unforgiving sea. As she meets other villagers, Fiona hears even more personal stories about an uncle who married a beautiful, part-human/ part-seal and about how the sea stole her baby brother during the departure from Roan Inish. Later, Fiona believes that she has found Jamie romping in the grass on Roan Inish, and she must convince the family of her vision. While Roan Inish has the feel of a family film, it shares with other Sayles works a character who learns history through storytelling, such as Sam Deeds in Lone Star (1996) and Dr. Fuentes in Men with Guns (1997). Sayles builds cohesive stories from multiple voices, showing the importance of oral history and indicating that learning the past can alter the future. ~ Norm Schrager, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: John Sayles
Written By: John Sayles
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Feb 3, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Jul 25, 2000
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Critic Reviews

Dennis Harvey, Variety
John Sayles' latest marks his entry into family-pic terrain, a crossing that draws pleasant but unexciting results.
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
Moving from passion fish to mystical seals, versatile filmmaker John Sayles' latest is a first-rate, all-ages fairy tale steeped in Irish folklore.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This is all rather low-key and uninsistent, but the settings are gorgeous, and Haskell Wexler's cinematography makes the most of them.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
One of Mr. Sayles's artistic strengths (and commercial liabilities) is his refusal to make movies that knock you over the head with larger-than-life characters and emotions.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
Sayles demonstrates again his amazing breadth of interest and the extent to which he can't be pigeonholed.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
A bauble, perhaps, but smartly mounted and sweetly offered -- a Disney flick with brains.
Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media
Gentle Irish folk tale of a young girl's island odyssey.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
It's family entertainment in the best sense of the term.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of his most accomplished movies, this is Sayles' corrective fable to a genre thas has favored male protags, exploring another outsider character, a young girl alone in the world.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Tales within tales, a subtle sense of economic and social realities, fine landscape photography and strong performances make for an engrossing, unusual fantasy.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
A beautifully told faerie tale
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Lyrical and lovely.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

If I was a twelve year old girl this film would rock my world. Because I mean dude, SEALS! Also the beautiful cinematography by Haskell Wexler is there to be appreciated by all ages and both sexes.
Wahida K

A beautiful tale makes you want to believe in Magic.
Stella D

a magical film for all ages :)
Cindy I

A fantasy about a little Irish girl who hears tales that her missing little brother may be being cared for by magical sea creatures called selkies. The Celtic music is a joy, but the Irish accents take a little getting used to.
Lanning :

Mahalo nui loa, Bookbat, this was a great recommendation. A magically quiet masterpiece of storytelling by John Sayles, who also gave us, amazingly, LONE STAR. No one tells stories the way the Irish tell stories. This movie celebrates that gift and passion with story after story… More
Mahalo nui loa, Bookbat, this was a great recommendation. A magically quiet masterpiece of storytelling by John Sayles, who also gave us, amazingly, LONE STAR. No one tells stories the way the Irish tell stories. This movie celebrates that gift and passion with story after story told within the frame of the film's story. The archetypal idea of the ultimate return home is given an even greater resonance when that trip back home involves reunion with a family member believed to be lost--flashes of Odysseus, and even Moses. The whole notion of the loss of language, Gaelic in this instance, is universally moving and significant today. A wonderful story, gorgeously shot by Haskell Wexler, with beautiful music. The seals are an amazing mix of the real and animatronics. This is a real find.
Burger S

Great children's movie. Great Irish folklore too.