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SONG OF THE SEA

"Sometimes Confusing Mixture"

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What You Need To Know:

SONG OF THE SEA is an Irish animated feature. The story begins with a little boy named Ben’s beautiful mother leaving the family’s lighthouse home after the birth of Ben’s sister, Saoirse (“Seer-sha”). Years later, Ben blames his sister for his mother’s mysterious disappearance. Ben is also upset because the mother’s disappearance has affected Saoirse, who doesn’t talk. When the children seem threatened by the magical sea near the lighthouse, their grandmother convinces the father to let them live with her in the city. Once they arrive at their grandmother’s scary house, Ben decides they should return to their father. So, he and his sister run away to travel the long distance home.

SONG OF THE SEA contains encounters with magical creatures and Irish Christian references. The movie is beautifully crafted, but the story sometimes is confusing, with too many fantasy elements that don’t always seem related to each other. Ultimately, the story has redemptive qualities that make it worthwhile, including some overtly positive Christian references. Still, caution is warranted for children because of the movie’s magical elements and pagan references.

Content:

(PaPa, OO, CC, B, L, V, A, D, MM) Mixed pagan worldview about magical creatures from Irish and Scottish folktales, with some positive Christian references in a Irish Catholic context, including references to both Jesus and Mary, including Christian altars and a “holy well” looks like a church inside, plus father reunites with his children and family relationships are healed; three light profanities (including “Oh my God” and a “Dear God”), and boy says, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” out of frustration; violence includes characters almost drown in the sea, fairytale creatures turned to stone, children threatened; no sex; no nudity; references to alcohol use and going to a bar to meet a friend; pipe smoking; and, brief references to Halloween, children run away, mother leaves family.

More Detail:

SONG OF THE SEA is an Irish animated feature about a young boy and his younger sister who go on a magical journey to return to their father in their home by the sea. Filled with Irish folklore and Christian references, SONG OF THE SEA is a beautifully crafted animated feature, but the story isn’t always clear and caution is advised for some of the movie’s magical elements.

The story begins with a little boy named Ben’s beautiful mother dying or leaving the family’s lighthouse home after the birth of Ben’s sister, Saoirse (“Seer-sha”). Several years later, Ben blames his sister for his mother’s mysterious disappearance. Ben is also upset because the mother’s disappearance has affected Saoirse, who can’t or refuses to talk.

When the children seem to be threatened by the magical sea near the lighthouse, their grandmother convinces the father to let them come live with her in the city. However, the grandmother refuses to allow the children to bring their dog.

Once they arrive at their grandmother’s scary house, Ben decides they should return to their father. So, he and his sister run away to travel the long distance back home. Along the way, they encounter magical creatures and learn that their mother is a selkie, a mythological creature who lives as a seal in the ocean but becomes human on the land when they fall in love with a human. Also, Ben’s sister is a half-selkie. She must reunite with her seal coat back home so she can save the fairy creatures, who are turning to stone because of the modern world, which has rejected both the world of magic and Ireland’s Christian heritage.

SONG OF THE SEA is beautifully crafted, but the story becomes confusing at several points. For example, in addition to the stories about the selkies and about the fairy world, the movie introduces stories about Mac Lir, a tragic sea deity in Irish folklore. The mixture is too complex and confusing, especially when the movie also adds some strong references to Ireland’s Christian heritage. Furthermore, it’s hard to identify with Ben, who clearly cares about his sister, but who can be annoying in the gruff way he sometimes treats her.

Ultimately, however, the story has redemptive qualities that make it worthwhile, including some overtly positive Christian references and positive family outcomes. Still, caution is warranted for children because of the movie’s magical elements and references to pagan mythology.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

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Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


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