Song of the Sea (English, 2014)

Being nominated for the last edition of Academy awards speaks volumes about the quality of work that has gone into this creation. To compete head-on with movies like Big Hero 6 needs a solid foundation in terms of looks & presentation; and this movie does not disappoint. With the yesteryear story book like animation to support the simplest of knots; Song of the Sea seems to share the quality of its characters; to magically turn its vice into a virtue!

If noted carefully, there is a duplicity employed in terms of the characters. There is Conor & then there is Mac Lir – both of them utterly disappointed & sad with their lives. There is Granny & Macha – who try to reduce the grief of their only child but unknowingly hurt them more. It is fascinating that this lovely interplay of characters & situations was seen recently in Uttama Villain too.

Ben as the orphaned son, who loved his mom to bits seems to be the ultimate key to unlock the whole mystery. If not for him, the entire plot would be so messy and senseless. His transformation from an angry little confused kid to a responsible and settled elder sibling is right on the mark leaving no doubts in the mind of the audience.

The concept of Fairies & the other world does not seem to lose its fascination. It has and always will be a challenge to the creative team to come up with something absolutely simple yet sensational. The concept of locking feelings in a glass jar seems to insinuate how humans tend to move on by dumping their true feelings at some point of time in life.

The music & song are the soul & life of the movie without which it is lifeless. The encounters for the sea conch and the finale are as delightful to the eyes as they are to the ears. It’s amazing to know that the soundtrack of the movie just falls short of an hour.

The characters of Seanachai & Ferry Dan have been under-utilized. For that matter there are not many characters in the movie, yet it seems to be so full of actors, an illusion that works most of the times but falls short on certain fronts.