The Secret of Kells (2009) - full transcript

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 killed?

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.