The Seal Children

Selkies are half-human, half-seal, and there are legends about them and their inter-relationships with humans all round the British Isles. In this story, a selkie-woman meets and loves a gentle fisherman who lives in a village on the coast of Wales. They have twins, but when the selkie needs to return to her watery life, he knows, sadly, he must let her go. Their children become the catalyst for finding the wherewithal to send the poor villagers off to the New World and a happier life, and ultimately, the boy returns to the sea with his mother. The story has a melancholy, lyrical tone that fits wonderfully well with the beautifully painted watercolours. These, full of the blues of the sea, the yellows and ochres of the moors and heaths, the strong planes of the faces of the village folk and the love of the family reflect perfectly the sombre tale. A superbly crafted production.