Other Authors

‘Kells’ is fantasy without the faith

By Sister Helena Burns, FSP | Contributor
Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Oscar-nominated animated gem “The Secret of Kells” is a definite “must-see.” The DVD isn’t out yet, but the film will be returning to the Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State St.) in June as it tours other cities. You do want to see this on a big screen, and although 3-D is being mightily overused and oversold these days, the hyper-creative, ever-in-motion, mixed-art-style graphics would have been marvelous in 3-D. There’s even a scene where our little hero, Brendan, battles illuminations come to life.

The “Book of Kells,” of course, is an ancient (ninth century) embellished Irish manuscript of the Four Gospels on view at Trinity College in Dublin. Its adventurous history has now been given a completely new life with this partially fictitious account, bringing the printed or illustrated Word of God to the cinema, and from there, of course, to all the new media.

In the movie, we meet Brendan who is a red-haired lad who lives at a monastery with his uncle — the sad, stern, red-haired abbot. They live under the ever-looming threat of the Norse invasion and ensuing destruction.

The abbot’s all-consuming preoccupation is to build a huge wall around the monastery for protection, although by all counts fleeing is the only way to face these marauders. Master-illuminator of manuscripts, Brother Aidan, arrives from the island of Iona, where everyone has already been killed.

The Vikings resemble huge, dark mailboxes with glowing red eyes. They’re scary, but not too. The most bloodshed we see is a stick arrow piercing the abbot’s ample robes. Even wee ones would probably be able to handle this.

Aidan enlists Brendan’s help in completing a manuscript (the future Book of Kells), which requires the boy to foray into a beautiful but treacherous forest inhabited by a friendly girl-fairy, Aisling.

The only flaw in the narrative is an abrupt break after Brendan encounters the nebulous evil “Crom Cruach” and returns unscathed. It seems there should have been a price to pay.

“The Secret of Kells” is a multi-level experience. Written for children, it is full of fun and fantasy. It’s a tale of faith and art, beauty and light. Although “prayer,” “miracles” and other Godtalk are manifest, there is no mention of “God,” “Jesus” or any of the actual text of the Gospels (the focus is on the artwork), but the fact that The Book dispels darkness is very prominent.

“The Secret of Kells” is an excellent springboard for diving into Celtic Christianity, culture, art, history, legends, monasticism, and, of course, the true power of the Book of Kells: God’s Word.

Advertising