The Secret of Roan Inish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Secret of Roan Inish
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Sayles
Produced by	Sarah Green Maggie Renzi
Screenplay by	John Sayles
Starring	Mick Lally Eileen Colgan John Lynch Jeni Courtney Richard Sheridan Cillian Byrne
Music by	Mason Daring
Cinematography	Haskell Wexler
Editing by	John Sayles
Studio	Jones Entertainment Group Skerry Productions
Distributed by	The Samuel Goldwyn Company First Look Pictures
Release date(s)	September 12, 1994 (1994-09-12) (Toronto International Film Festival) January 21, 1995 (1995-01-21) (Sundance Film Festival)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United States Ireland
Language	English Irish
Budget	$5.7 million
Money made	$6,159,269

The Secret of Roan Inish is a 1994 American and Irish film. It's an independent film, meaning it was made outside of the big Hollywood studios. The movie tells a story that feels like a dream, mixing real life with magic. This style is called magical realism.

The film was written and directed by John Sayles. It is based on a book from 1957 called Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry by Rosalie K. Fry. The story is all about selkies. Selkies are amazing creatures from Irish and Scottish folklore. They are seals that can take off their skin and become human!

The movie is set on the west coast of Ireland. It follows a young girl named Fiona. She goes to live with her grandparents and cousin near an island called Roan Inish. People say selkies live there. The family has a special legend. They believe Fiona's younger brother was taken by the sea and raised by a selkie.

The Story of Roan Inish

The story of The Secret of Roan Inish takes place in 1946. We see everything through the eyes of Fiona, played by Jeni Courtney. Fiona is a young girl who has faced some tough times. Her mother has passed away, and her father is unwell. Because of this, Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small Irish fishing village.

Fiona's New Home

In the evenings, Fiona's grandfather shares old family stories. He tells her about their family's original home. It was on a tiny island called Roan Inish. In the Irish language, "Rón Inis" means "Island of Seals." The family had to leave Roan Inish during the war.

Life in the fishing village is simple and close to nature. Everyone knows each other. Animals are treated with great respect. Seals are especially important. People believe seals have a special, human-like spirit. It is considered very wrong to hurt a seal.

The Mystery of the Selkies

As Fiona meets other people in the village, she hears an amazing tale. A distant cousin tells her about an ancestor. This ancestor married a beautiful Selkie, a seal-woman. Their marriage was full of happiness and they had many children. But the selkie always felt a mysterious pull to the ocean.

Fiona's cousin explains that selkie blood runs through some family members. He says he has it, and so does Fiona's baby brother, Jamie. This makes the old stories feel very real to Fiona.

Jamie's Disappearance

Fiona learns more about how her baby brother, Jamie, disappeared. It happened years ago when the family was leaving Roan Inish. Jamie was in his little cradle boat. The sea seemed to take him, and he floated out of sight. He was never seen again, or so everyone thought.

Fiona's cousin, Eamon, also lives near the grandparents. He often goes with their grandfather in his curragh, a traditional fishing boat. Eamon is older and very clever. He quickly becomes Fiona's partner in her plans. Their daily adventures on the sea and shore become very exciting.

A Secret Plan

One day, during a visit to Roan Inish, Fiona sees something incredible. She believes she sees Jamie playing on the beach and in the grass. She tells Eamon, but he warns her to keep it a secret from their grandparents for now. Fiona watches and sees that the seals seem to be taking care of Jamie. They help feed him and play with him.

Fiona and Eamon come up with a big idea. They think that if their grandparents move back to Roan Inish, the seals will bring Jamie back to them. The grandparents' current landlord is selling their home, so they need to move soon. But they don't want to go back to Roan Inish because it makes them sad about losing Jamie. Fiona and Eamon reason that if they have to move anyway, why not go back to the cottages they loved most?

Without telling anyone, Fiona and Eamon start working hard. They want to fix up the old, empty cottages on Roan Inish. They clean and repair the homes. They even put on new thatch roofs, paint, plant gardens, and bring in furniture.

The Big Storm and a Happy Reunion

After returning to her grandparents' house, a terrible storm begins. Fiona worries about Jamie's safety in the strong winds. She says aloud, "I hope he thinks to go inside the cottage." Her grandparents hear her and are shocked by what she says.

Fiona's grandmother is very wise. She immediately knows what to do. If there's any chance Jamie is alive after all these years, they must rescue him right away. She gathers her husband, Eamon, and Fiona. They pack what they need and get into the curragh. They make their way to Roan Inish through the storm.

When they race inside the cottage, Jamie isn't there. The wind is getting stronger, and the rain has started. But the grandparents are amazed and thankful. They see how Fiona and Eamon secretly fixed up the cottages.

Suddenly, Jamie's tiny cradle boat bobs to shore. He jumps out and heads for the cottages to escape the storm. The seals lovingly guide him to safety, just as they had probably been doing all along. But then he stops. He sees his grandparents, Eamon, and Fiona. He doesn't remember them. His grandmother calls to him, telling him not to be afraid. She asks him to come to them for love and safety. She wants him to come to his family at last.

Jamie stays still and scared. He tries to run back to his cradle boat. But several seals gently guide him towards his family. They stop him from returning to the sea. Reluctantly, he walks into his grandmother's open arms. They all go inside. Seeing that Jamie is safe, the seals leave.

Inside, the family is overjoyed. They have found the child they thought was lost forever. They wrap Jamie in a warm blanket and sit by a cozy fire. Fiona holds him and rocks him to sleep.

Cast