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"The Perfect Movie
Set- Ireland" |
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Directed by Zach Gray -
Written by Aaron Adams,
Scott Fogg
Starring Kevin Novotny,
Patrick Bergin, Niall
O'Brien, Noelle Brown
Distributed Independent -
2006 - 88mins - Rated PG |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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C+ |
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What is the secret? |
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In "Secret of the
Cave," the debut feature film from director Zach Gray, Roy
(14-year-old Kevin Novotny) is a young man trying to find himself. As
if to make matters worse, he's forced to find himself in a foreign
land when his father (Patrick Bergin), recently divorced, drops him
off for the summer in the Irish village where his father had grown up.
A stranger in a strange land, Roy acquaints himself to his aunt and
uncle (Niall O'Brien and Noelle Brown) and quickly gets to learn the
townsfolk, including an unpopular priest (Sean Murphy), the town
grinch (Joseph Kelly) and two village youths, Abbey (Niamh Finn) and
Gareth O'Connor.
The script, by Aaron Adams and Scott Fogg, depends heavily upon one's
awareness and belief in the Irish tendency towards spirituality and
superstition as a variety of goings on in the village, largely
positive but occasionally negative, are often attributed to a restless
recently deceased chap, God or do-gooding angels.
Roy doesn't buy any of the explanations, and sets out to investigate
the various events and find out what's really behind the mysterious
events in this tiny Irish village.
Based upon an out-of-print (soon to be back in print) children's book,
"Secret of the Cave" by Arthur Maxwell, the film is essentially an
adventurous journey for a young boy whose journey is truly both
external and internal.
In his first major lead role, Novotny offers an understated, quiet
performance as Roy. Much of the time this fits his character
perfectly, however, there are moments when the dialogue seems to
indicate that Roy is bursting emotionally and Novotny's performance
doesn't follow. Much of this can be attributed to the overall relaxed
pace of the film itself. Even when feisty, the characters in the film
are feisty in that "I live in an Irish village and this is as excited
as I get" kind of way.
As the aunt and uncle who host Roy, Niall O'Brien and Noelle Brown
offer wonderfully energized, compassionate performances that grow in
their emotional resonance as their relationship with their young
nephew grows. Brown, in particular, is tender and tough as she deals
with her seemingly rebellious, truly wounded young relative.
The film's production design is stellar. As much could be expected
since "Secret of the Cave" was actually filmed in a small village off
the coast of Ireland. David George's cinematography is stellar, though
there were times it felt as if he didn't fully capitalize on the
wondrous setting of the film.
"Secret of the Cave," a film production sponsored by Southern
Adventist University and featuring a large number of university
production team members, will be a hard sell for American audiences
with its easygoing pace, dialogue heavy storyline and Irish accents
that may be challenging for some smaller children to understand.
However, its strongly spiritual undertones and richly positive values
may make marketing to churches and religious communities a way to
increase the film's visibility.
"Secret of the Cave" is likely to experience a limited run in theatres
followed by an extended life on DVD where it can be marketed heavily
for use in youth groups and children's ministries.
"Secret of the Cave" was a Crystal Heart Award Winner at the 2006
Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis where the film received its
world premiere. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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