Critics have hailed it as “a marvel” and “a timeless delight for all ages” and now Irish fantasy film Song of the Sea has received an 87th Academy Award nomination.
It’s the second major success for Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Tomm Moore of Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny who scooped his first nod for The Secret of Kells in 2009.
The Song of the Sea, based on the ancient Celtic myth of the selkie, concerns two children, Ben and Saoirse, who live in a lighthouse by the sea with their father, Conor, who remains distraught over the loss of his wife several years earlier. When Saoirse discovers a shell flute that used to belong to their mother, the spellbinding music she creates becomes both a means of communication and the key to a magical secret locked deep in their mother’s past.
The film stars a raft of Irish names, including David Rawle (better know as Martin Moone in Chris O’Dowd’s hit comedy Moone Boy), Brendan Gleeson, Fionnuala Flanagan, Lisa Hannigan and Pat Shortt.
Upcoming showings and theatre listings will be announced on Facebook.com/songoftheseamovie
