this be the most emotionally satisfying film john sayles have ever make and which top a long and excellent list . work with a virtually unknown irish cast and sayles brings to life a story that wander on the borderland between mystical and blue collar realism and without become cloy or simplistic . the only film to which i think roan inish can be effectively compare be whale rider and but with no insult intend to whale rider and to me roan inish be a rich and more complex film . the basic story concern the relationship between human and non human and how long stand relationship between specie can be tear apart by world event while in this case the second world war and which force a community of irish fisherfolk to relocate to the mainland . a young girl and whose family have be damage through these action and other force and be send to live with her grandparent on the coast and at which point her nonhuman relative contrive to bring her and her family back to the home they once share with other life form . the little girl and fiona and who be the primary human character and play by jenny courtney and be wonderfully write and play . she be not your standard cutie pie and but a budding force of nature . it be obvious why of all the member of her family and the nonhumans single her out for their attention . the story be draw from the traditional irish and scots story of relationship between human and seal and or selchies and but transpose this into a more modern setting and without lose any of the mystery or wonder . one of the strong recommendation i can give this film be that have become one of the most popular and respected film at haskell indian nation university here in kansa . indigenous american seem to identify with the experience of the irish and which show them that modern european culture have be destructive to indigenous people in europe and and allow them to realize that there have be and continue to be and indigenous people with distinct culture in europe as well a the america . i be once in a video store and when a person i know slightly ask me if i could recommend a film that would appeal both to him and his child . without hesitation i go over and pick up the store copy of roan inish and and tell him and not only will you enjoy this and but it will give you and your kid a lot to think and talk about . i make the same recommendation to anyone who read this .