Posted on 04/04/2010 3:32:28 PM PDT by thecodont
"The Secret of Kells" is an anachronism many times over, and what a good thing that turned out to be.
A ravishing, continually surprising example of largely hand-drawn animation in the heyday of computer-generated imagery, an inexpensive and sophisticated European production in an age of broad-stroke studio films, even a spirited defense of books and bookishness while Kindles walk the earth, "Kells" fights the tide every way it can.
Yet this longshot that began as a college project for Irish director Tomm Moore edged Hayao Miyazaki's "Ponyo" for one of five feature animation Oscar nominations, and in a year without Pixar's "Up," might even have won. That's how magical this story of a boy and a book turned out to be.
The book is the Book of Kells, a circa AD 800 illuminated manuscript whose recounting of the four gospels was so dazzlingly decorated and illustrated (in part by the monks at the abbey of Kells) that it's universally regarded as one of Ireland's national treasures.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Can’t find it near me but I want to see it. The Oscars recently exposed me to it and I had forgotten the name. Thanks for posting.
George Simms, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, from 1969 to 1980, was also a scholar, who published research on the history of the Church of Ireland and on the Book of Kells. Bishop Simms was one of the leading experts on the Book of Kells. I knew him when I lived in Ireland, and he and his wife were guests of ours for dinner one evening, just before he retired in 1980. I have seen the Book of Kells, and it is worth the time - quite extraordinary illuminations.
Thought this was going to be atake on the secrets of the Krell as learned from Dr Morbious. (Forbidden Planet)
Hmmm. I’ll have to get this one from Netflix!
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LA Times video review doesn’t mention what faith the Book of Kells depicts. This would not be done with any other religion.
I’m dying to see this movie. I used to study celtic calligraphy. I saw a review of this movie in USA today last week, and I’m anxious for it to open here.
Netflix will have it i have it on my queue...
Check out..The Book of Kells: The Work of Angels?
In the eighth and ninth centuries, Irish artists created the Gospel of Colum Cille, an intricately decorated edition of the Bible’s four Gospels, now regarded as one of the great artistic treasures of the Western world. Using high-definition video to showcase the impressive work, this compelling documentary tells the story behind the tome that many scholars call the most beautiful book in history, which now resides in Trinity College in Dublin.
Netflix has it,a documentary but very interesting..
thanks for the headsup.
I’ve not heard of an Irish director of an animation film before, that’s nice:)
I have a reproduction copy, too. It’s truly extraordinary, a real thing of beauty. It’s hard to think of the term “Dark Ages” when you see this.
“How The Irish Saved Civilization” ...an excellent book indeed!
Yep.
And why does the movie portray little fairies as having created the Book of Kells?
Are they embarrassed that some dirt poor right wing Irish monks barely out of the (so called) Dark Ages were so motivated by the gospel of Jesus Christ???
1970s? The first time I’d heard of the Book of Kells (that I can recall) was during the fantasy-fiction / sword-and-sorcery craze that basically grew out of Tolkien. The big beautiful “Book of Kells” was displayed at Walden right next to that huge long poster (the black and red one) version of the cover art for the Ballantine ppbk of the LOTR.
I bought it as a joke to leave on coffee table when American guests are visiting,picked it up one day and read it went WOW i did not know that...
Slainte.........
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