'Mesmerising' period drama with 95% Rotten Tomatoes score that fans watch every year

Period drama lovers have been raving about a beloved 1990s film, which fans have been watching on repeat. The beloved fantasy film The Secret of Roan Inish, directed by John Sayles, is based on the 1959 book "Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry" by Rosalie K. Fry.

Set in 1946, the story is told from the point of view of Fiona (played by Jeni Courtney), a young girl who is sent to live with her grandparents in the Irish fishing village of Roan Inish. The youngster is sent to the Celtic village after the death of her mother, the illness of her father, and her own frail health. After spending time with her grandparents, she becomes convinced that her baby brother, who was lost at sea years earlier, is still alive.

Following local legends of selkies and the mysterious history of their ancestral island, Fiona searches for him, believing he may have been raised by seals. Throughout the film, she explores the island and uncovers strange clues, eventually spotting a young boy who seems to live among the seals, leading her to believe her brother is alive and well.

The film explores themes of the enduring connection between humans and nature, family bonds and belonging, and the power of folklore and memory. It also explores how family history, love, loss, and heritage are passed down through generations, often tied to a specific location.

In creating the film, John Sayles drew on original research of Celtic Island lore and language. This includes the Blasket memoirs, a series of vernacular memoirs collected in the 1920s and 30s from residents of the Great Blasket, an island off the County Kerry coast that was evacuated by the Irish government in 1953 and designated a national park in 1989.

Although the original novel is set in Scotland, the filmmakers decided to film it in Ireland for practical reasons. Most of the film was shot in County Donegal, Ulster, in the north of Ireland, with some scenes filmed on the Isle of Mull in Argyll, Scotland.

The epic fantasy series, which fans can stream on Amazon Prime, stars an ensemble cast led by Courtney, Pat Slowey, Dave Duffy, Declan Hannigan, and Mick Lally. More than 1,000 girls were tested for the role of Fiona, which required the actress to be thin, underweight, with a pale complexion, but not afraid of water.

The popular film boasts a 95% rating on the popular critics' website Rotten Tomatoes since its release in theaters. Despite being more than 30 years old, the book and the show have received widespread acclaim from fans online.

One user penned: "I don't know why more people haven't seen this movie. It has been a staple in my home for nearly 25 years. There is something about this movie that will wash over you and soothe the bruises of the world."

Another gushed: "The storytelling of this movie is so mesmerising! I feel myself almost entering a zen state while watching it; it was so comforting, and I'm not even Irish!" A third gushed: "This is an amazing film. I've been watching it since I was little. This is one of my go-to films to watch."