Secret of Kells, The (2009)

[bunniefuu]

I have lived through many ages.

Through the eyes of salmon,

deer

and wolf.

I have seen the Northmen

invading Ireland,

destroying all

in search of gold.

I have seen suffering

in the darkness.

Yet, I have seen beauty thrive

in the most fragile of places.

I have seen the book.

The book that turned darkness

into light.

Brendan,

don't let her get away.

Come on.

Nice goosy, goosy, goosy...

Stand back, I will get her.

Which way?

Brendan, that scaffolding

is not steady!

Brendan.

Coming.

- Brendan.

- Brendan.

Are you hurt?

I...

Keep it quiet, Brendan,

or the abbot will hear.

I'm sorry, but we

have to do this.

It will all be

over in a minute.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Now, that wasn't so hard

was it?

Lucky bird.

Your feathers will

become the tools

from which we create

immortal pages of sacred text.

Abbot, I explain for you.

We tried to catch goose

and she run very fast

and I fall in the mud.

Forgive us, Abbot.

Brendan, where are

those plans I asked for?

The plans?

I left them in the scriptorium.

Bring them to the tower.

Yes, Uncle.

Tomorrow, you will go back

to work on the wall.

Dawn till evening bell.

Brother Leonardo,

clean yourself up

for pity's sake.

I don't know why

there are artists in Kells

when all that man

wants us to do

is to build this crazy wall.

Yes, that is all the man

cares about, nothing else,

and you continue

to defend him, Brendan.

Uncle just wants to protect

us from the outside.

When the Northmen

come to Kells,

they'll make no distinction

between young and old. So...

"Prepare or

meet your doom!"

You just don't understand.

But, Brendan, you've never

been outside these walls.

I don't have to go outside

to know how dangerous it is.

Where have you all been?

We went to get these, for you.

You should have seen

him, Brother Sergei.

He took a flying dive,

like a beautiful swan.

It is not funny.

The Abbot sees us.

He is not happy because we

are not working on the wall.

Now enough of that! What about the books?

Does he not find them?

If there were no books,

all knowledge would be lost

for eternity.

We cannot only build walls.

The people must have books,

so that they may have hope.

If we had a true

master illuminator,

we would do such splendid work.

Let us pray that one will

be delivered to us one day.

Let us pray!

Surely you don't need a master.

- Your work is the finest I've seen.

- Thank you, Brendan.

But we are mere scribblers

next to true masters.

True masters? Such as...

Such as Brother Aidan of lona.

Aidan the Wise.

Aidan is indeed the great one.

Who is the Brother Aidan?

A sage.

The wisest one of them all.

The perfect illuminator.

Well, where is he then?

He lives on a tiny island

called lona.

There is an abbey on the island

where he works

on a magnificent book.

The Book of lona.

The book was begun

200 years ago,

under the orders of none other

than Saint Columbkille himself.

The Book of lona

outshines all others

because of the miracle

of Columbkille's third eye.

No, not because

of his third eye,

because of his three hands

with 12 fingers on each.

That's not true!

He had a third eye, not a third hand.

Have you not heard about

the Eye of Columbkille?

Of course!

But that was for

making the prophecies.

His third hand was

for beginning the book.

Enough! Just tell the boy

about Brother Aidan.

His writings are said to glow from

the pages, as though they are light.

Sinners have been blinded

while glancing upon the pages.

For to gaze upon the book

is to gaze upon heaven itself!

The Book of lona.

But where is lona?

It is far, far away in the sea.

Like all islands should be.

A beautiful place where the illuminators

do not have to build walls.

But, the Abbot says that islands

are too easy to attack.

Brendan, are you still here?

You'd better bring

the Abbot those plans,

or you'll be in big trouble!

- Uncle!

- Hurry, boy!

Here they are, Uncle.

Brendan, how am I to trust

you with responsibility

when you continue

to disappoint me?

One day, you will take

control of this abbey.

Yet it takes you several hours

to fulfill a simple task.

I'm sorry. The monks

were talking of lona.

I dreamt it was destroyed.

It was so real, Uncle!

It is real, Brendan.

One day that horror

will come to us.

That is exactly why

we must prepare ourselves.

This section of the wall

is supported by three pillars.

Here, here and here.

Uncle, someone has arrived!

He has a white cat!

Another victim of

the Northmen, no doubt.

Now, let's see.

No, no not that far.

But we've the legs walked

off ourselves all the same.

But, please, from where?

A very long way?

Yes, 'twas

long enough all right.

But when you have this

little one to keep up with,

well, it doesn't

take half the time.

Isn't that right, Pangur Ban?

Will you be staying long?

Welcome to Kells, Brother.

Abbot Cellach.

Peace be with you!

Brothers, welcome to Kells one of the

great illuminators of our times.

Must be a stone mason.

Brother Aidan of lona.

Now, one question at a time.

As Columbkille used to say,

"Questions do not burn your tongue"

"if you wait to ask them."

Welcome to Kells,

Brother Aidan!

It is this way.

Come on, everyone.

Hello, welcome to Kells.

Hey, wait!

We were only just talking

of you and of the book.

I think we are tempting

fate, this is true.

Fine size of a place, isn't it?

Good clean air,

fine light coming

from those windows.

- Brother!

- Very good indeed. Yes.

Is that where

you keep the book?

Is that where you keep the...

And who might you be?

A very short Brother I see.

The person who is short of stature

is never as short of questions.

And of what interest

is the book to you?

Well, the Brothers were talking

and they said that Saint

Columbkille himself began it.

Brothers, now that you've

greeted Brother Aidan,

I must take him to see the important

work we're doing to fortify Kells.

You all have work to do.

The plans are in my work room.

But you see, I was thinking

I could stay here...

Right this way, Brother.

Lad!

Find some food for...

You see, I am determined to

complete the fortifications

within two years.

So, you're Pangur Ban.

Well, I'm...

Hey, wait.

I'm supposed to feed you.

Wait!

Pangur Ban!

Pangur Ban!

You should not have come here.

The Northmen will

have followed you...

Was I to stay and be k*lled?

I escaped the Vikings and left

them far behind, Brother Cellach.

Sorry, I mean, Abbot Cellach.

The book is saved

and I mean to complete it.

Yes.

Well, we have more pressing

things to complete here.

You mean your wall?

Not my wall, Aidan.

A wall to save civilization.

A wall to save your book!

Pagans, Crom worshippers.

It is with the strength

of our walls

that they will come to trust

the strength of our faith.

You were always good at

the old drawing, Cellach.

Yes.

Well, if you'll excuse me,

I have a lot to attend to.

No wall can stop

the Northmen, Abbot.

When they come,

all we can do is run

and hope that

we are fast enough.

Come on, Pangur.

Pangur!

I don't mean the book any harm.

All I've ever seen

is inside the walls of Kells.

If I could just see one page...

Please.

Well!

If it isn't the little Brother

with the big questions.

I didn't mean to...

I understand.

You got bored eavesdropping on

the Abbot's private conversation

and decided to rummage

through my things.

No, that's not it!

Calm down, lad, calm down.

I won't tell on you.

Maybe I...

The Brothers said that the sinners are

blinded if they glance at the book.

So maybe I shouldn't.

Is that what you really

believe will happen?

There's nothing in this life

but mist, is there, lad?

It's your decision,

no one else's.

The cover is not

the real treasure.

Open it!

The work of angels.

"The work of the angels."

Hear that, Pangur?

I didn't know they made angels

as funny looking as me.

Maybe the boy has gone blind.

I thought the very same

when I first saw it.

But it is only the work of mere

mortals, I'm afraid, like me or you.

The book is a beacon in these

dark days of the Northmen.

Do you want to see

the most beautiful page?

The one that will turn

darkness into light?

It is to be

the Chi-Rho page.

But it hasn't been made yet.

No, but it will become the most

glorious page of the entire book.

Tell me, Brendan, would

you like to help me?

Yes, please! I help the Brothers

find quills all the time.

Calm down, calm down,

little Brother.

Now, to start with, you can help me gather

some of these, from an old oak tree.

- What is it?

- It's a humble little berry,

but it makes the deepest emerald

green ink you will ever see.

If you help me get a dozen

or so from the forest,

I'll show you how to make it.

So, come on!

What's keeping you?

I can't go. I'm not allowed

outside the walls.

It's too dangerous.

It is... dangerous.

On lona,

I lost my brothers to

attackers from the outside.

Now, I have only the book

to remember them by.

But, if my brothers

were here now,

they would tell you that you

will learn more in the woods

from trees and rocks

than in any other place.

You will see miracles.

And that is something the Abbot knew

a long time ago.

I've never seen

anything like it, Pangur.

I really want to

help Brother Aidan.

I think I could get those

ink berries all by myself.

I could go into the forest.

Wouldn't Brother Aidan be surprised?

But the Abbot...

I'd be back before

he'd even miss me.

But, what if I get lost

in the dark?

No!

I should never go out there!

If I keep thinking of the book,

I won't be afraid of the dark.

And I'm sure I won't

have to go that far.

Right, so, Pangur Ban, tomorrow

I'll go into the forest!

Pangur!

Of course, it might help if I knew

what an oak tree looked like.

Maybe we'd better go home.

Was it this way?

Do you remember?

Don't panic, Pangur. We just have

to find the way back before dark.

Pangur!

No, it's hard enough.

Is this your cat?

Well?

I've heard about

creatures like you.

You're a fairy!

What are you doing

in my forest?

You've come to spoil it,

haven't you?

You were probably sent here by your family

to get food, weren't you?

Well, you can go right back

where you came from.

If you don't, I'll make

the wolves get you!

No!

I didn't mean to.

Look, I'm sorry, all right?

I'm not here to get

food for my family.

I'm here to get

things to make ink.

I don't have a family,

and we have food in Kells.

So I wouldn't come here for it anyway.

I was just a bit lost.

You have no family?

No.

No mother?

I'm alone, too.

If this is your forest,

you must know everything about it.

- Of course.

- No. Wait!

Hello?

Not so loud!

Go away!

No, wait, please!

Do you know where I can find these?

Yes.

But you can't eat those.

I don't want to eat them.

They're for ink.

What is ink?

It's... for the book.

For making pictures.

Liquid color,

you put it on pages.

Well, like leaves,

it's hard to explain,

I suppose you'd have to see it.

I don't know what you're talking about

and I don't want to know.

But, Brother Aidan...

I will help you find the things

you want, on one condition.

You, and your pet, must promise

to never come into my forest again.

All right, then.

We promise.

Come on then, I'll ask the

forest where they are.

Ask the... What?

Hey, wait!

My name's Brendan.

What's yours?

It's a miracle,

just like Aidan said.

Aidan is my friend.

I'm helping him make the most

incredible book in the whole world.

He says it will turn darkness into light.

Wait until you see it!

Wait until you see

the rest of my forest.

You're fast.

Yes, I'm the fastest.

So, where are the berries then?

You have climbed a tree before,

haven't you?

Yes, of course.

It's easy.

Come on so!

Saved your life,

second time today.

I thought you knew

how to climb trees.

I do. Smaller ones.

Yeah, like bushes.

Don't look down. Come on!

Look!

One beetle recognizes another.

Come on.

Open your eyes and

I'll tell you my name.

Aisling.

And this is my forest.

I asked them not to sting you.

Here's what you're looking for.

But they're not really berries.

They look like boar droppings.

They're kind of stinky, too.

If you're finished,

it's time to go back down.

Back down.

A bit left.

No, wait!

Don't lean on that...

...branch.

I'm sorry it took

so long to come down.

Except for the last part.

We'd better go now. I know a

secret way to get you home.

Come on!

Look!

Brendan?

Brendan?

What are you doing?

Come away!

This is a place of suffering.

Suffering?

What do you mean?

Just come away!

It's too dangerous.

Surely it can't be more dangerous

than climbing an oak tree.

It is the cave of the Dark One.

Crom Cruach?

But Crom Cruach's

only a story for children.

The Abbot of Kells says that you

shouldn't be afraid of imaginary things.

It's not imagined.

It's waiting in the darkness.

Waiting for someone

to awaken it.

Aisling, you're only

scaring yourself.

The Abbot says that

that's all pagan nonsense.

There's no such thing

as Crom Cruach.

Crom Cruach.

Don't speak its name!

You're really frightened?

Aisling!

Are you hurt?

What was that?

I told you.

Crom!

Brendan?

You can visit the forest

again, if you like.

And Pangur can come, too.

But, on lona

we always arranged them...

This is not lona.

The scriptorium will be arranged

according to my instructions.

But it's not a good...

It will be as I say.

Brother Aidan!

I found them! I...

Well, Brendan. It's about time

we saw you today.

Where have you been?

I'm listening.

Where were you?

I... I went into the forest.

Just for a little while,

not very long.

Just to...

- It was for Brother Aidan...

- Brendan.

Have I not warned you enough about

what lies outside these walls?

- Yes, but...

- Yet you disobey me.

- I know, but for the book...

- Brendan.

You are never to leave the abbey

again without my permission.

Uncle, if you see the book...

Do you understand?

Yes, Uncle.

Good.

Now, come along, there are matters

to be tended to in the workroom.

- Look!

- What?

I found them.

You did?

So you did!

I did have a little help.

From a friend in the forest.

Well, there's nothing you can't do

when you have friends to help you.

Now, let's see.

Yes. Yes, I believe

these will do very nicely.

From tiny berries do great

images come to life.

Come along!

A good one. Lot of smoke.

That's a good sign.

- It is?

- Yes.

Beautiful.

From a stinky berry.

Making ink is all very well, but it is

useless

without one of these.

I'm not...

I'm not allowed to...

There's no one but us here now.

Just you

and your imagination.

Afraid?

Me? No. I'm not afraid

of imaginary things.

Keep going.

Finish what you start.

Gold!

Not bad.

I'd say he could

do it right enough.

Do what?

I must confess, my boy,

I haven't been completely

honest with you.

I cannot do

the Chi-Rho page.

My eyes have become too old

and my hands unsteady.

But you said...

You should be the one

to do that page!

Me? No! I can never.

I won't... There must

be somebody else.

You have to do it.

I would ruin it.

- Brendan.

- No, no, no.

Of course you can do it.

You found those berries,

you've certainly developed

a steady hand.

Brendan!

Even before I came, you'd already learned

much from the other Brothers' work.

- You've only to unleash your imagination!

- Brendan!

I have to go.

Where have you been so early?

Come along, there's

much work to be done.

I don't know, Pangur.

Something I cannot see

stops him.

If he is ever to light up

the Chi-Rho page,

he'll have to turn around and

stare whatever it is in the face!

Brendan!

We're moving the scaffolding to the west wall.

Hurry along now!

Well, I think you're ready to learn

Columbkille's secret.

The mesmerizing detail.

Of course,

you'll need another eye.

Now, once I find the crystal...

- Brother

- it'll open up a whole new world.

A tiny wonder.

Columbkille instructed that the

crystal should never be used

unless the work

is worthy of it.

It has not been

used since lona.

What's a crystal?

This is not a crystal,

it's the crystal!

The Eye of Columbkille.

Columbkille created over

300 books in his lifetime.

By his own hand.

On his deathbed, he prayed

that his apprentice

got a vision as clear

and wonderful as his own.

Then, as he drew

his last breath,

it dropped from his hand.

The Eye of Columbkille.

Columbkille would

want it to go to you.

Where is it?

Sorry, Pangur.

Have you seen it?

Where could it have...

It's lost.

It's all lost!

Where did you last have it?

I don't understand.

If I could show

the crystal to you,

all would become clear.

- But...

- I...

I can still continue

my training, can't I?

Have you ever studied the tiny

pattern on a greenfly's wing?

- No. - And you never will

without the crystal.

What if we pray for a miracle?

Like Columbkille did?

Some say that before the crystal became

known as the Eye of Columbkille,

it had an ancient name.

Named for the creature that

Columbkille won the crystal from

deep inside one of

its dwelling places.

Crom Cruach!

It was called

the Eye of Crom Cruach.

Crom!

I can't tell you which parts

of this story are true

and what parts are

shrouded by the mists.

There's nothing

in this life but mist.

We're only here

for a short while.

Don't worry, Pangur.

I won't be alone.

You've been forbidden

to leave the abbey.

Now you are also forbidden

to enter the scriptorium.

Please, Uncle,

you don't understand.

Oh, I understand perfectly well!

No more excursions,

no more scriptorium

and no more Brother Aidan.

No.

What did you say?

I can't do that.

I can't give up

the book, Uncle.

If you looked at just

one page, you'd see why.

You've forgotten

how important it is.

All you want for us

is this wall.

Brother Aidan said

you were an illuminator once.

- He said...

- That's enough!

If I can't trust you

to stay out of harm's way,

you'll have to remain here

until you see sense.

Cellach, please,

don't blame the boy.

I'll have a talk

with him and...

You'll do no such thing.

You can't... Brother Tang

will bring him his meals

and once there is nothing

left here to distract him...

Let me keep the book, Cellach.

It was entrusted to me.

Have it then.

But on the condition that you leave

Kells with the first thaw of spring.

Brendan.

Aisling!

How can I get you out?

I don't know.

The tower is locked.

And my door is bolted

from the outside.

The key is in the Abbot's room.

Maybe you can take a message

to Brother Aidan.

♪ You must go where I cannot

♪ Pangur Ban, Pangur Ban

♪ You must go where I cannot

♪ Pangur Ban, Pangur Ban ♪

Why did the Abbot

put you in there?

- Because I disobeyed him.

- Why?

Look!

The Eye of Crom!

No, it's a crystal.

I think there's one

in the Dark One's cave.

I have to go there.

No, Brendan, it's tricking you.

You should have

stayed in your tower.

Crom Cruach took my people,

it took my mother.

It takes everything.

You will die!

Aisling, if I don't try,

the book will never be complete.

The book.

All right then,

I will help you.

Aisling! This place is hurting you.

You must go back.

I'll find some other way.

I... I must help you.

Please, Aisling, go now!

Turn the darkness into light.

Aisling!

Aisling!

Old fools!

Old fools should

learn to keep quiet.

Unless young fools

want to listen.

You're here!

How... How did you...

How did you get out

of the tower?

You must go back

before the Abbot finds out.

Look, look, this... This is

not the place for you, lad,

there is nothing for you here.

But you are here,

the book is here

and the Eye is here.

How is this possible?

It was destroyed!

There is more than

one story about the Eye.

There is more than one dwelling

place for the Dark One.

And he had more than one eye.

You entered one

of the Dark One's caves?

You can't find out everything

from books, you know.

And I think I read that once.

Right, then,

it is time to begin.

Your breakfast, Abbot.

Take it to Brendan.

See if...

See if he has

come to his senses.

It's like heaven, no?

Heaven on Earth.

Please... Please, Abbot,

it's my fault.

You little fool!

The Northmen are upon us,

and here you are drawing!

We have one day

before the Vikings attack Kells!

The gate won't hold.

We must... We must run from here!

The gate will hold! You will lead

the new refugees into the chapel.

They can seek comfort there

until the attackers move on.

Tang, tell villagers

to stay in their huts.

Cellach.

You'll be safe in here

with your precious book.

No, not yet!

Stay inside!

Tang! Open the door!

Into the tower!

One at a time!

The steps aren't strong enough!

Tang, there are too many!

It's too late.

Close the door!

Brendan!

Ink! We have to make ink!

Brendan, wait, wait, wait.

We can't... - Hurry!

Uncle!

No!

No! We must save him!

Quickly, Brendan,

where is the secret passage to the forest?

We have to save him!

We can't help him now.

Brendan.

We... We cannot stop.

I have to go back.

The Northmen,

left no one on lona

they will leave no one in Kells.

My uncle.

He lived to protect you.

The only way he knew how.

Now, I must protect you

for Cellach and for the book.

Gold!

Brendan!

Aisling!

We have to keep

running, Brendan,

and hope that

we are fast enough.

He's alive!

I'm so tired.

Tang, leave me be.

Please.

Leave me be.

You are the Abbot of Kells!

You must get up!

The book was never meant to

be hidden away behind walls,

locked away from the world

which inspired its creation.

Brendan, you must take

the book to the people

so that they may have hope.

Let it light the way in these

dark days of the Northmen.

Aisling?

Aisling?

I'm so tired.

Please, Abbot,

you must take your rest.

Rest? With our most important

treasure destroyed?

But how was I to know?

How could I know

he would perish?

Please, Abbot.

He was only a boy.

Angel of Darkness!

Not yet!

I need time!

Uncle!

Brendan?

It is a dream.

This is no dream.

I'm so happy to find you here.

I thought I'd lost

you a long time ago.

Brendan,

you were only a boy.

All those innocents lost.

All my fault.

Please, Uncle,

do not distress yourself.

You don't understand.

I have no time, Brendan.

You were right.

About Kells, about Aidan,

about the book.

I shouldn't have.

This is all I have left.

It is the only comfort

I have in this world.

Brother Aidan was right.

And I tried to stop him.

Aidan never paid you

much heed, Uncle.

Well, I suppose not.

Brother Aidan lived to see his

work passed on and completed.

The Book of lona!

The Book of Kells?

The Book of Kells.