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The Secret of Roan Inish

(2000, Rated PG, Drama, Starring Jenni Courtney, Eileen Colgan, Dave Duffy)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    A quiet film, filled with lovely images.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Secret of Roan Inish

Parents need to know that this movie explores themes of loyalty and commitment to family and following your heart.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the folklore depicted in this Irish film, why film is such a great medium for depicting folklore, and how stories can be updated to modern day and still carry the same important message they did centuries ago.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    wonderfull movie!! i was hooked all the way through!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    I'm 14 and I LOVED IT!! :)

    I am 14 years old and we watched the movie in my music class. I thought it was very nice and had great footage of Ireland. I would give it an 8 out of 10. My only complaint is that some of the shoots were a little bit long and it was hard to understand what the characters were saying at times.

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    Get the popcorn and enjoy!!

    What a delightful magical well-done film! Just a great time for the family!! This is what movies should do for us!!

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Beautiful Family Freindly Film

    This film will hold the attention of people of most ages. It starts slow but steadily draws you in. My (sensitive) 9 year old was a little spooked when the selkie turned into a human, but it did not bother my 5 year old in the least, although the story may have been a little over his head.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    My favorite movie. Ever. Of all Time.

    Our whole family really loves this movie. The performances are perfect, and the setting is stunning. Whenever we watch this, we long for and aspire to the simple, but important, ideals that Fiona and her family achieve.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    One of the best

    The films I seek out for my eight-year old daughter are ones that unfold at a leisurely pace, tell intriguing stories,have engaging characters and rich imagery. This film has all of those in spades. It's the antithesis of frantically paced hollywood "family" fare".

    This story is about living close to nature and involves magical creatures called "selkies", seals that take on human form and that occur in Irish and Scots folktales. There are a few scenes of peril, but they are mild by today's standards: a young baby floats to sea in a cradle and is thought to be lost, and an older child briefly goes adrift in a rowboat in a fog. One scene of a seal transforming into a woman might be mildly disturbing to some kids, but wasn't to my fairly sensitive daughter. The biggest obstacle for many kids would be the thick Irish brogues, which prompted the producers to provide English subtitles even though the film is in English. But my daughter followed things pretty well, and when she didn't, we just hit "pause" and did some explaining.

    All in all a great, great family film, enjoyed by the adults and the kid in our household equally and hugely.

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