DVD release for perfectionists


This lovely film suffers from more than one 'gap in logic' which can be cured by the more technical fanatic (like me!) The DVD contains 'out-takes' that supply informative scenes which the post production edit fell short of when deciding to remove them. The 'phone call that Angus receives is from his sister Maire who is the doctor in the Glasgow hospital where the grandfather is. She and the other brother (inferred sibling discourse becomes evident) the opinion of old Angus's prognosis is in gaelic and without the post production overlay of translation, seems to be what is inferred in the final cut - with them disageeing with the old man's opinion of being near death. The Director makes the choice during making to remove them from the story line - as it becomes confused by the two Angus's 'stealing' a small craft and being chased by the two other grandchildren - to the jetty of the final mountain location.
All of this could, and I feel should have been better worked around.
The basic premise of the movie was from a short film - helpfully in the DVD. The Christmas Eve scene. The children are much younger and the story told about patience being a virtue - more involved and cogent to the remake and expanded final film. I craftily re-mastered the whole to use that into the final film and it does make so much more sense.
Kudos to the ideas and the dedication of the producers ... from a lowland Scot who has 'no Gaelic' and relied on the hated 'subtitling' to follow the stories. It is a 'home-spun production' and all the better for this. Scottish history suffers from massive misrepresentation when arranged by the powerhouse producers. A dedicated laziness to research the nub of what can be amazing lessons of history and applied to the present and future?
Go seek out a rented copy of this movie ... it's worth the effort.

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Wow ! Glendinning-1, are you saying this is out on DVD already ?

I'm off to search Amazon.co.uk.


You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

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