Song of the Sea

This animated fairy tale casts an intoxicating spell. Steeped in Irish myth, it tells an enchanting, folklore-inspired story about a young boy named Ben (voiced by David Rawle), who lives on a tiny island off the coast of Ireland. During the first couple of scenes, we discover that Ben resents his little sister, Saoirse (Lucy O'Connell), since her birth coincided with the sudden disappearance of their mother. After Saoirse falls ill, however, Ben tries to be a better brother, accompanying her on a fantastical, cross-country journey that involves a fearsome owl-witch and a trio of instrument-wielding fairies. All of this plays out as a child-friendly adventure, but at the same time it also functions as a moving - and occasionally heartbreaking - exploration of grief and loss. Combining beautiful animation with a haunting score, it's a gorgeous piece of work that deserves to be celebrated.