Celebrate Burns Night with a Film Made in Scotland
As Scotland, and Scots around the World celebrate the works of the Bard of Ayrshire on January 25th, we present a collection of films made in, and about, Scotland. The films in the list and the locations used reflect the balance between the marketable mysticism highlighted by Scotland.org as “Stunning mountains, rugged landscapes, gothic castles and unspoilt wilderness” and its vibrant, modern, cosmopolitan cities. It is surely this diversity of locations that attracts so many filmmakers to shoot there. Case in point being the latest film in The Avengers franchise, which will utilise both the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh alongside the picturesque scenery of the Highlands. With an estimated £10 million boost to the economy, let’s hope we see many more films come out of Scotland like the ones below (list compiled with the help of the NFTS Film Studies, Programming and Curation MA – places still available, more info & to apply here).
Macbeth (2015)
Justin Kurzel’s recent adaptation of Shakespeare’s Scottish play sticks to the historical setting, with cinematographer Adam Arkapaw shooting the Isle of Skye with just the right level of misty mysticism and foreboding. Seeing the beautiful landscape of Quiraing through Arkapaw’s cinematography more than justifies the transfer from stage to screen. NFTS alumni credited on Macbeth include: Art Director Marco Anton Restivo; Sound Mixer Stuart Wilson; ADR Recordist Peter Warnock; Matchmove Artist Sarah Byers; Digital Compositor Roni Rodrigues; Colourist/Online Editor Paul Scott.
Small Faces (1996)
Winner of “Best British Film” at the 1996 Edinburgh International Film Festival and directed by NFTS alumnus and occasional tutor Gillies MacKinnon, this loosely biographical film revolves around three brothers who anger the leader of a local gang. Shot on location in various Glasgow districts, including Partick and Bishopbriggs, it transcends the usual gangster clichés to become an affecting coming of age tale about art, and the ambition to make something of yourself. In addition to Gillies being an alumnus of the NFTS, the film’s Editor, Scott Thomas and Composer John Keane are graduates from the School.
Venus Peter (1989)
Filmed on the Orkney Islands in the North of Scotland, Venus Peter – directed by Ian Sellar who is also an NFTS tutor and alumnus and shot by NFTS alumnus, Gabriel Beristain - is about growing up in the rapidly changing community of the Orkney’s in the late 1940s. There is a rich sense of a vibrant community in the strange characters that inhabit Peter’s life, but above all it is a story of Peter’s fantastical imagination. The film crew paid members of the Orkney community to act as extras in the film and in 1999 Richard Mowe, curator of film at the National Museum of Scotland, chose the film as one of his top twenty Scottish films of the century.
Young Adam (2003)
David McKenzie directs a terrific cast of Scottish actors, including Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton and Peter Mullan, in this atmospheric and claustrophobic tale of lust set aboard a canal barge. There is a dark and increasingly disturbing mystery at the heart of the film which begins when the corpse of a woman is fished out of the canal. Shot in a variety of locations in Central Scotland, including both the Union and Forth canals, this is a stark portrayal of urban working life in the 20th century. The film’s Production Designer, Laurence Dorman is an alumnus of the NFTS.
I Know Where I’m Going (1945)
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s superlative romantic comedy about Joan Webster (Wendy Hiller), planning to marry a wealthy industrialist in the Hebrides. Joan’s plans go wrong when she finds herself stranded on the Isle of Mull and increasingly attracted to a seemingly penniless young naval officer. It is a film full of local superstition and beautifully observed characters which finally found its audience in the decades following its release.
Local Hero (1983)
Bill Forsyth’s classic film of big business buying up rural communities remains as pertinent today as it did in the 1980s, especially after the debacle of Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf course. What remains so wonderful about Local Hero is its subversion of the “naïve mystical villager” trope so beloved of films since Brigadoon. These villagers know exactly what is at stake and will do everything in their power to get themselves the best deal possible. The majority of the village scenes were filmed in Pennan on the Aberdeenshire coast, and most of the beach scenes at Morar and Arisaig on the west coast. The red phone box in Pennan, made famous by the film, still stands today, defiant against floods and telephone box closures.
Whiskey Galore (1949)
Filmed on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Whisky Galore, directed by Alexander Mackendrick, is based upon a true incident, the foundering of the SS Politician off the Isle Of Eriskay in 1941 with 50,000 cases of Scotch Whisky aboard. The Scottish islanders of Todday by-pass war time rationing and delight in smuggling cases of their favourite tipple from the wrecked ship in this light, charming and timeless comedy, a remake of which is due later this year directed by Gillies MacKinnon (Small Faces).
Trainspotting (1996)
Danny Boyle and John Hodge’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel, long deemed un-filmable, is the Scottish film of the 20th century, whilst the sequel, due on January 27th, is almost certainly the most anticipated Scottish film of all time. As with Welsh’s novels, it focuses on the seamier underbelly of Edinburgh but still manages to showcase some of the city’s best features such as the gorgeous Georgian architecture in its infamous Princes Street chase sequence.
Sweet Sixteen (2002)
Ken Loach has directed many Scotland set films, including 2004s romance and religion Ae Fond Kiss (named after the Burns poem) and 2012s fantastic whisky comedy The Angel’s Share but this is perhaps the best known. It introduced audiences to Martin Compston (Line of Duty) as Liam, who dreams of a better life for his mother on her release from prison and resorts to drug dealing to fund this dream. Shot in and around Greenock, and Port Glasgow with an emotional climax on the coast of Gourock, it tells a familiar tale of drugs and gangs with Loach and writer Paul Laverty’s usual humanity.
Ratcatcher
NFTS alumna Lynne Ramsay’s debut feature follows James, a Glaswegian boy coming of age during the summer of 1973. A bin man strike has left his neighbourhood even more ramshackle and run down than usual and he longs to move to the countryside. Whilst dark in some of its subject matter (the film opens with the drowning of James’ friend) there are moments of genuine warmth and humour, resonating with Scotland’s character. The film includes a large number of NFTS alumni in addition to Lynn including: DoP Alwin Küchler; Editor Lucia Zucchetti; Production Designer Jane Morton; 2nd Unit Sound Stuart Wilson; Sound Supervisor Paul Davies; Sound Recordist/Dialogue Editor Richard Flynn; 2nd Unit Photography Tom Townend
Under the Skin (2013)
Jonathan Glazer’s chilling and atmospheric adaptation of Michel Faber’s novel follows Scarlett Johansson’s nameless alien predator around the streets of Glasgow in a van for unattached men who won’t be missed. These unattached men are portrayed mostly by Glasgow locals rather than actors, which lends local flavour and authenticity. NFTS alumni credited on the film include: Dialogue Editor Jussi Honka; 3D Camera Tracker Sarah Byers; 3D Artist Samuel Walsh; Digital Compositors Nicholas Zissimos, Victor Tomi & Jorge Canada Escorihuela.