The Secret of Kells

Director: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey

2010 / 75min / 35mm

Co-directed with Nora Twomey, Moore’s Oscar-nominated feature debut is a marvel of meticulously detailed hand-drawn animation inspired—both in its narrative and visual design—by the 9th-century illustrated manuscript The Book of Kells. Long forbidden by his stern uncle to leave their monastery for fear of roving Vikings, young monk Brendan slips out into the woods to gather berries for ink, there to encounter a forest spirit named Aisling—and the inspiration to complete his masterpiece. A lush, lavish love letter to Celtic culture which makes stirring drama out of the clash between generative artistic creation and destructive warmongering.

Q&A with director Tomm Moore moderated by curator Thalia Stefaniuk on Saturday, March 15th