...and now for something completely different.
The Secret of Roan Inish -
This is one of the first hidden gem movies I ever watched, and after having not seen it for a few years, it remains a favorite. Hidden gem could describe every movie directed by John Sayles, who I'm surprised isn't better known since I haven't been disappointed by any of his movies that I've seen. With
Men With Guns,
Limbo, and this movie, he's proven to be an expert at stories about endangered communities for the special way he depicts what they do to survive and the typically cruel forces that marginalize them. This one's exquisite beauty, magical qualities and how it emphasizes the power of storytelling make it my favorite such exploration.
Cinematography can make or break a movie as much as its direction, which is why the great Haskell Wexler deserves as much credit for how good this movie is as Sayles. Besides the way he films coastal Ireland's natural charms, I like how the intimacy of his camerawork shows how small this world is. It’s also a nice touch that nearly every shot is filmed at Fiona's diminutive height for how it lets us see this world through her eyes and stresses how hard it is for her to convince everyone that her story about her missing brother Jamie is true. Speaking of stories, every character has one to tell, and luckily, Sayles and company never forget that this is a movie and not a book. With their crossfades, sepia tones, etc., the stories are as pleasing to see play out as they are to hear, and each one proves how useful stories are at carrying on cultural and family traditions. Being caught between two worlds is another recurring theme, and the many instances of it from Jamie's place in the seal and human worlds to the community's place in Ireland and the England that threatens to erase its uniqueness are expertly interwoven. The secret sauce in all of this, though, is in the whimsy and laughs. How it makes you wonder if the seagulls and seals are collaborating with little to no special effects deserves credit, as does the genuine humor, which finds its peak in the surprise that the grandmother - the most traditional and devoutly religious member of the family - wants to believe Fiona the most.
While this movie is a favorite, there are still things in it that raise an eyebrow. Coastal folk may be a stern and salty lot, but the performances are tad stiff on the whole. As for the stories, as involving as they may be, there are scenes like the first one with Tadhg that make you wonder if they rehearse them since some are a little too perfectly composed. Also, the selkie's marriage didn't exactly end well, but even though it was a different time, the movie should have called out her husband for essentially holding her hostage. It still earns its hidden gem status and proves that John Sayles is one of America's best indie directors. It's always a shame when a community withers away, especially as a result of forces that do it willingly. That they can be preserved by someone as innocent, uncynical and hopeful as Fiona is refreshingly optimistic.