Skellig
Enter the magical world of Skellig, available on DVD from 27th April 2009. Adapted from the award-winning* children’s book by David Almond (Kit’s Wilderness, The Fire-Eaters), Skellig tells the story of Michael (Bill Milner - Son Of Rambow), and the fascinating yet unlikely friendships he forms with two of the most interesting characters you could ever hope to meet.
Skellig is the tale of a young boy who encounters a remarkable creature and equally remarkable girl who whisk him away from his day to day existence into an extraordinary world he never knew existed.
Feeling left out of the family circle whilst his mother, (Kelly Macdonald - No Country For Old Men) and father (John Simm - Life On Mars) are preoccupied with his seriously ill baby sister, Michael feels lonely and confused, wishing there was some way he could unite his family under one roof.
What Michael soon discovers is that the answer is just lying a few feet away from him in the form of Skellig (Tim Roth - The Incredible Hulk and Lie To Me), a dark shadow hidden amongst the spiders’ webs, dead flies and dust in the decaying garage in the back yard of his unfamiliar new house.
Despite his initial fear of this bizarre being, the spirit of adventure in him takes over and Michael cannot stop himself going back to find out more. As he does, Michael forges an unlikely yet endearing friendship with his neighbour Mina (Skye Bennett - Ballet Shoes), a curious young girl who seems to be the only person who understands him. When Michael confides in her his amazing secret, they set out to find out more about their new mysterious friend.
As Michael and Mina befriend the scruffy garage-dwelling figure they discover he is an extraordinary being, both physically and emotionally.
From the dishevelled wings on his back to his intriguing eating habits, the friends see something almost human, almost animal or perhaps something else altogether in Skellig, and can’t help but sneak out each night to spend as much time with him as possible.
As Michael and Mina nurse Skellig back to his former health in Mina’s secret hideaway Skellig, in turn, helps them in a way they never knew possible.
When Skellig helps Michael and his family in a way that nobody else in the world can, Michael realises the reason Skellig appeared in his life to rescue his and his baby sister’s heart.
Skellig is an unusual, inspiring tale of friendship and love, told with compassion and sensitivity that won’t fail to touch your heart. Skellig is available to own on DVD from 27th April.