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SoaringhighPV (7)
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As you can tell, I'm constantly checking this forum for Local Hero chat. Well, 5 months isn't long in the history of the movie and news doesn't always travel fast round here.
It's almost impossible to criticise one of the best films ever made but I have to agree there are one or two, largely inconsequential, issues which do sort of slightly grate, great as it is as a complete creation. The stone skimming scene: I also have always felt it's not the best moment, both down to the sea state being completely non-conducive to stone skimming but also the unwieldy manner in which both chaps are making their attempts. Having just reviewed the scene again (not that I really needed to) the sea isn't impossible for stone skimming but extremely unsatisfactory for an amateur. I disagree though that it's wrong. It's hard to keep your balance on that type of foreshore. But it's just another quirk, I bet there's a story behind it, though if so it's not in the book. I wonder how many portrayals of stone skimming exist in cinematic history.
Anyway the stone skimming, I'm sure we'd all agree, takes absolutely nothing from the magic of the movie. As Iain Smith quoted a quote in Jonathan Melville's book: “When you make a movie it’s a movie. If they’re still talking about it in ten years’ time, it’s a film. If they’re still talking about it in fifty years’ time, it’s cinema.” OK, so we’re only at forty-one but that’s quite clearly already the case for Local Hero.
[<i> continued</i>]
Thank you, Mr Melville, for producing this gem. Out of the almost 8 billion people on the planet, I guess it's probably only a few tens of millions that know and love this film (maybe a stetson full if each were a grain of sand - it could even be a bigger number). As I have done, every one of them should buy and thoroughly enjoy this book. Sláinte!
<i>There's a lot going on next week (25-28 May 2023) in Aberdeenshire to celebrate the 40th anniversary</i>: https://www.cinescapes.co.uk/ Sadly, I can't be there.
So here's my review of the book Local Hero: Making a Scottish Classic by Jonathan Melville (placed on the website from which I purchased):
I was on Camusdarach beach last week, staring at my hand, full of the fine powder sand, wondering if it really was 10,000 (give or take) grains and how many would make a hatful. Which of course reminded me that it must be about (almost exactly) 40 years since the release of Local Hero, to my mind the best film & music score ever. So a little research to see if this staggering anniversary was marked in any way (it is!) resulted in my discovery of this brilliant & lovely book by Jonathan Melville.
The book superbly runs chronologically through the film with so many side stories, interviews and quirky detail (I never knew the lemon juice slapstick was a late addition and it was good to have confirmation that no rabbits were harmed, and probably none eaten either, during the making of the film). I've long lost count of the number of times I have watched the film and enjoyed the sheer delight of the genius of Bill Forsyth's wry humour and absolutely spot on sense, as he has said, that "it's what happens in between the story that's important". Wandering down the side lanes as Sandra Voe puts it. So true and this book takes that fully on board in its style. And Peter Riegart: "That Bill is something else!". It's also clear that the cast and crew generally had a whale (or was that a sea lion) of a time in its filming. The insights into the ceilidh are truly wonderful. I had no idea Mark Knopfler was so involved during the filming. But I can't imagine, in 1983, Catriona's single word would have ever made it to the final cut. Shame really, especially if it was actually filmed, which I rather doubt.
[<i>continued in next post as I have run out of space</i>]
Thanks. That'll be Leakeys. Not going to Inverness this time. We were there last July after Hebcelt for the Runrig musical The Stamping Ground which was great. No it's back home to Devon at the weekend. Next year we aim to have a week in Arisaig and also visit Coll & Tiree where we've never been, some good beaches there too apparently. Well into our 70s now so need to get these things done!
And just in case anyone's interested, here are a few images from the past 3 days of some of the best scenery round here, no bombing of the beaches, no injured rabbits also.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DdL4VnXeiuem5Kkt8
This is Scotland! Cool cloudless skies yesterday. Deep blue sea & aquamarine shallows, with cloudless Coulin & Rhum. They elect a new SNP leader. Today it's more than smirr or dreich, it's rather oorlich (had to look it up). I doubt there's a connection. So a little trip into Mallaig shortly & maybe a stroll later along Loch Morar north shore to Bracorina if it clears a little.
Visited Pennan for the first time two years ago. Lovely village & I see why it was chosen for its character. But for me it'll always be Camusdarach. Geography and geology are not well served by the choice of locations! It's so obvious that Pennan isn't on the west coast. But then west coast Morar is an unlikely location for North Sea oil infrastructure. Whatever, it really doesn't matter. Whole lotta scenery though 😉 For me, it's the beach that's the crucial element of why the film works (apart from the characters, dialogue, humour, music, incidental side delights (so many, impossible to say which is best)) and crucial to the whole thing could be the beach-related fact that a hatful of sand wouldn't be business-like. Never understand how people (and apparently even Bill Forsyth) say nothing really happens. A myriad of stories as well as the main one.
Rain stopped but Mallaig visit produced no book 🙁. It'll have to wait till Fort William or home.
Yes been to Staithes, another lovely place with a great history. A whole lot of the British Isles really take some beating (non-political comment 🙄).
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