The theme of waking up plays out on multiple levels in the gorgeously animated The Secret of Kells from filmmakers Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey. Young Brendan awakens to the world outside the walls of the Abbey of Kells where he lives with his uncle, the Abbott. He also awakens to the world inside that of books. But possibly the most important awakening is that of the Abbot who learns that he cannot hold on to treasure – material, spiritual, or human – by trying to build walls around it and close it off from the admittedly violent and uncertain world. It is the treasures we hoard for ourselves that are most needed in the world, and the risk of sharing them must be engaged.
—Darryl A. Armstrong
- Directed by: Tomm Moore Nora Twomey
- Produced by: Didier Brunner Paul Young
- Written by: Tomm Moore Fabrice Ziolkowski
- Music by: Bruno Coulais
- Cinematography by: Fabienne Alvarez-Giro
- Editing by:
- Release Date: 2009
- Running Time: 75
- Language: English, Irish
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