Vacationing on Seven Bay Island in the summer of her 16th year, budding poet Victoria "Vicky" Austin (
Mischa Barton) is faced with the approaching death of her beloved grandfather (
James Whitmore), who is suffering from leukemia. In hopes of briefly forgetting her troubles, Vicky begins assisting a handsome young researcher named Adam (Ryan Merriman) who is working with sea mammals. In this capacity, Vicky discovers that she possesses the unique gift of being able to communicate with dolphins -- and also finds herself romantically torn between Adam and a wealthy suitor named Zach (
Jared Padalecki). Suspense enters the picture when the dolphins "tell" Vicky of an illegal driftnet fishing operation. Based on the 1981 novel by
Madeleine L'Engle and location-filmed in Australia, A Ring of Endless Light made its cable-TV premiere over the Disney Channel on August 23, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide