If you're looking for a movie to rent, that would be a great antidote to the combined forces of election trauma and post-holiday letdown, pick up this gem. You won't be sorry.

As the pic opens, ten-year-old Fiona (Jeni Courtney) is on the deck of a small ship headed for a remote fishing village in the west of Ireland. The time frame is approximately 1949.

Through a series of quick flashbacks, we learn that her mother died in 1946, and her present voyage is taking her to live with her grandparents. She is leaving her father, now employed in a city-- although most often found in a pub--who feels that a return to the country would be best for her.

Upon arrival, she is introduced to her cousin Eamon (Richard Sheridan), as grandfather Hugh (Mick Lally) and grandmother Tess (Eileen Colgan) get her up to speed on some local lore. Central to everything is their former home, visible through the window of Fiona's new bedroom: Roan Inish--Island of the Seals.

Not long after her mother's death, the residents of Roan Inish were evacuated to the mainland of Ireland. In the evacuation, though, tragedy struck, and Fiona's baby brother Jamie was pulled out to sea. Losing a wife and an infant son in short order was enough cause for Fiona's father to move the remainder of his family to the city, and drink way too much.

Fiona thrives in her new environment, even as she is drawn back to Roan Inish. The opportunity soon arises for her to visit her old home, as she accompanies Hugh and Eamon to the island, for a brief tour.

She can't wait to return, but in the interim learns the legend of the Selkies--part seal and part human. Her relative Tadhg (John Lynch) explains that one of her ancestors found a Selkie momentarily outside of her seal skin (and thus of human appearance), brought her to Roan Inish, and married her. That, he maintains, is the source of the occasional dark-haired and dark-eyed individuals of their otherwise fair-haired clan. Perhaps the dark Tadhg has a bit of the seal himself.

On her next visit to the island she sees a raven-haired little boy running around on the shore. Could it be Jamie? Could he have been protected and preserved by the seals these three years?

Director/screenwriter John Sayles lets the tale unfold at a leisurely pace, in keeping with the setting. If the heavy Irish accents are difficult at times for American ears, they are essential to the authenticity of the film.

Just about every element of this production is perfect, with special mention for cinematographer Haskell Wexler and the haunting music by Mason Daring. The DVD offers the bonus of detailed commentary by helmer Sayles.

A bittersweet aspect of the Selkie legend has them drawn inextricably back to the sea. Indeed, the female Selkie of this movie (Susan Lynch) finds the skin hidden by her husband, and returns to the water, abandoning all else.

Roan Inish will affect many on a primal level, and I can only speculate on the reasons why.

Its main ingredients are simplicity, closeness to nature, and self- reliance, brought together with bravura artistry. The rareness of all of these qualities may be reason enough.