Song of the Sea: dir Tomm Moore (2014)

This engaging animated feature takes inspiration from the Selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land. 10-year-old Ben and his mute little sister Saoirse, the last Seal-child, embark on a fantastic journey across a fading world of ancient legend and magic in an attempt to return to their home by the sea … The film is a really engaging fantasy that has beautifully nuanced but relatable characters, gorgeous artwork, and an entirely natural rooting in ancient folk tales and magic. As one review put it, “Song of the Sea has an assured and timeless quality to it”. Recommended.

Screens as part of Sharjah Art Foundation’s Sunday Cinema Club – a free film followed by a talk or a workshop, 3pm each Sunday from 5 July to 30 Aug at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh. Films are child-friendly animations (5–19 July), pioneering science fiction (26 July–9 Aug), or “significant works of Arab cinema” (16-20 Aug). The workshop for this afternoon is on shells: “Imagine discovering a special shell of your own. What power does it hold? What story does it tell? Transform your shell with colourful drawings and words, fashioning a unique object that carries its own magic and meaning …”