The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)

Ten-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland. She soon learns the local legend that an ancestor of hers married a Selkie – a seal who can turn into a human. Years earlier, her baby brother was washed out to sea and never seen again, so when Fiona spies a naked little boy on the abandoned Isle of Roan Inish, she is compelled to investigate.

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Family, Drama

What to watch after The Secret of Roan Inish

• The Secret Garden (1993)
• Passion Fish (1992) — John Sayles directed both
• The Secret of Kells (2009) — Same subject: irish folklore
• Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011) — Same subject: fishing
• Lone Star (1996) — John Sayles directed both
• Big Fish (2003) — Same feel: whimsical, reflective