The Secret of Roan Inish

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The Secret of Roan Inish

PG

1994

1h 43m

Kids & Family

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Fiona (Jeni Courtney) is a young Irish girl with an unusual family history, including a long-missing baby brother. When she goes to live with her grandparents on the west coast of Ireland, Fiona hears stories about her ancestors, tales that involve mythical creatures called selkies who can shift from seal to human form. After Fiona ends up on the small island of Roan Inish, her family's ancestral home, she believes she may have found her little brother living by the sea.

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Critics Consensus

The Secret of Roan Inish is a gentle fairy tale filled with optimism that's suitable for the whole family.

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Anne Billson

Daily Telegraph (UK)

I wish I liked it more, but there's more than whiff of worthy Irish heritage in the air, and the story drifts all over the place. I'm afraid I kept drifting off as well.

Nov 27, 2017

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Bruce Diones

The New Yorker

The rhythms are placid and the camerawork (by Haskell Wexler) is simple and unfussy. The film's a charm.

May 3, 2013

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Dennis Harvey

Variety

John Sayles' latest marks his entry into family-pic terrain, a crossing that draws pleasant but unexciting results.

Mar 11, 2008

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Melinda Miller

Buffalo News

Roan Inish is a beautiful tale of a lovely legend, of love and seals and, instead of giving up your hopes, of giving them a chance to come true.

May 11, 2021

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...a story about storytelling, and how folk tales and real life can intermingle.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 18, 2014

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TV Guide

It's family entertainment in the best sense of the term.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 11, 2008

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Rick M

What a total surprise. A most unique Irish story. One of the most delightful movies I have seen in years.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

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Kathy B

Sometimes you just need a quiet movie to enjoy and this movie will do it for you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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Devra B

I loved this movie! It’s for all ages, not just for kids.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/24

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Whitney L

This film captures the essence of Irish life alongside it's folklore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/07/24

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Allison S

As an Irish American who grew up watching this movie, it is so ridiculous and Irish. The grandpa literally spends half the movie just telling long stories about his ancestors, and there's a lot of superstition and praying… so it's definitely Irish AF. It's a movie with love to watch and make fun of. I'm sure it's fun to watch in earnest if you didn't grow up with it, but I just can't take seriously grown adults that just fully accept that a small child may be out there but don't look for him because "the sea has taken him". For that alone, it's hilarious.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

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Mark B

Hate to be the bug in the soup but this was not well acted and the dialogue was stilted and pretty poor. It is definitely family friendly from a content standpoint but it does not hold up and doubt it will hold your attention.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/04/24

Full Review

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John Sayles

Director

Mick Lally

Hugh

Eileen Colgan

Tess

John Lynch

Tadhg

Jeni Courtney

Fiona

Richard Sheridan

Eamon

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Synopsis

Fiona (Jeni Courtney) is a young Irish girl with an unusual family history, including a long-missing baby brother. When she goes to live with her grandparents on the west coast of Ireland, Fiona hears stories about her ancestors, tales that involve mythical creatures called selkies who can shift from seal to human form. After Fiona ends up on the small island of Roan Inish, her family's ancestral home, she believes she may have found her little brother living by the sea.

Director: John Sayles
Producer: Maggie Renzi, Sarah Green
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co: Jones Entertainment, Skerry Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $82.6K
Runtime: 1h 43m

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