EN - In the 9th century, In a remote part of Ireland, lies Kells Abbey, where Brendan, a bright and good-natured 12-year-old orphan lives. Raised by his uncle, the authoritarian Abbot, Brendan is hard at work with the other monks to fortify the abbey walls as protection against Viking raids, while neglecting their work on illuminating manuscripts. Brendan is called to a new life of adventure with the arrival of Brother Aidan, a celebrated master illuminator and keeper of an extraordinary but unfinished Illuminated Book. Brother Aidan takes him under his wing and initiates Brendan into the art of illumination, awakening a prodigious talent. The Abbot however, obsessed with their security, does not want Brendan to be distracted from the construction work. Brendan knows he must finish the magnificent Book. He has to overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him for the first time beyond the Abbey's walls into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide in the gloom. It is here that an ancient evil Serpent God protects the crystal Brendan needs. It is also here where he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young white wolf/girl, who will help him along the way. Seeing the world through new eyes with the help of the crystal, Brendan’s imagination is unleashed. But with the terrifying Viking hordes closing in, can Brendan’s artistic vision illuminate the darkness and brutality of the age and offer another kind of protection against barbarians? The Book of Kells, one of the masterpieces of European art and Ireland's national treasure, survives to this day. It is exhibited in Trinity College, Dublin where the beautiful and intricate Celtic designs of the Book still astound many thousands of visitors every year.
FR - Au 9ème Siècle, dans un partie reculée de l’Irlande, se trouve l’abbaye de Kells où vit Brendan, un orphelin joyeux et débonnaire de 12 ans. Elevé par son oncle, l’Abbé autoritaire, Brendan est mis durement au travail avec les autres moines pour fortifier les murs de l’abbaye afin de se protéger des attaques des vikings, délaissant ainsi leur travail d’enluminure de manuscrits. Avec l’arrivée de Frère Aiden, un maître enlumineur renommé et détenteur d’un livre enluminé extraordinaire mais non terminé, Brendan est entraîné dans une nouvelle vie pleine d’aventures. Frère Aiden le prend sous son aile et initie Brendan à l’art de l’enluminure, réveillant ainsi un prodigieux talent. L’abbé, obsédé par leur sécurité, ne veut pas que Brendan soit distrait du travail de construction. Brendan sait qu’il doit finir le livre magnifique. Il doit surpasser ses plus grandes craintes pour partir à la recherche d’un secret qui va l’emmener pour la première fois en dehors des murs de l’abbaye, dans une forêt enchantée où des créatures mythiques et dangereuses se cachent dans la pénombre. C’est là que l’ancien diable Serpent protège le cristal dont Brendan a besoin. C’est là aussi qu’il rencontre la fée Aislikng, une jeune et mystérieuse fille-loup blanche qui va l’aider tout au long du chemin. Voyant le monde sous un nouvel angle et avec l’aide du cristal, l’imagination de Brendan est déchaînée. Mais à l’approche avec les hordes de Viking terrifiantes, la vision artistique pourra-elle illuminer l’obscurité et la brutalité de l’époque et offrir un autre type de protection contre les barbares ? Le livre de Kells, l’une des pièces maîtresses de l’art européen et du trésor national irlandais existe toujours. Il est exposé au Trinity Collège à Dublin où les dessins celtiques beaux et complexes du livre suscitent chaque année l’admiration de plusieurs milliers de visiteurs.
Info
| Title | The Secret of Kells |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Secret of Kells |
| Original version | English, French, Dutch |
| Status | Completed |
| Category | Features , Animation |
| Year of production | 2009 |
Credits
| Cast | Voice Cast (UK): Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally, Paul Tylac, Liam Hourrican, Evan Mc Guire, Christen Mooney, Michael Mc Grath Voice Cast (BE): Michaël Pas, Felix Peeters, Magali Lybeert, Jan Decleir, Jakob Beks, Chiel Van Berkel |
|---|---|
| Screenplay | Fabrice Ziolkwoski, Tomm Moore |
| Editing | Fabienne Alvarez-Giro |
| Music | Bruno Coulais |
| Released | 02/11/2009 |
| Other | Special effects: Cartoon Saloon |
Technical specs
| Running time film | 78' |
|---|---|
| Release format | 35mm |
| Sound format | Dolby SR |
| Colour | Colour |
Partners
| Supported by | Flanders Audiovisual Fund, CCAV and télédistributeurs wallons, Wallimage, Promimage, Canal+ France, France 2, CNC, Région Poitou-Charentes, IFB, Section 481, BCI, Eurimages, Media i2i,Tax Shelter, ING, Belgacom, Kinepolis Multi, KFD, Fedex, MEDIA |
|---|
Festivals
2010: Oscars - The Academy Awards of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (USA)
Awards
2010: Nomination for the Oscars® in the category Best Animated Feature (Oscars - The Academy Awards of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
2009: Special Mention (Animafest Zagreb - The World Festival of Animated Film) / Best Director, Best Production (Cartoon Movie) / Best Irish Film (Dublin Film Festival) / The Standard Life Audience Award (Edinburgh International Film Festival) / Jury's Honorable Mention (Icon – Israeli Annual Science Fiction, Fantasy and Role-playing Festival) / Publieksprijs (International Animated Film Festival Annecy) / 2009: Best Irish Film (Irish Film Festival) / Audience Award, Kecskemet City Award (Kecskemet Animation Film Festival) / Grand Prize (Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival)
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Last edited on 16 December 2011