The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford

"Kenneth" (Peter Mullan) is probably the only man left alive who is interested in perpetuating the memory of this Victorian Scotsman. "Sir Douglas" was a writer, a scholar and even a dabbler in medicinal practices but now, all that remains are a few rusting copper plates on some boulders on which he sat, musing and writing centuries ago and a tiny museum that gathers dust rather than visitors. Then things go a bit wild. A popular fantasy drama comes to their village to film, bringing with them a collection of groupies who care not for his history nor, for that matter, anything else in this sleepy town. "Kenneth" decides to fight back by making a film of his own, but on discovering that he needs a permit he realises that he also needs a star. Who better than the son of "King Ergon" - the dashing, popular and aspiring thespian "Oscar" (Jakob Oftebro)? Can he convince him to take part? Can he get past his minders to even ask? Meantime, this recent widower has a slightly strained relationship with his daughter "Anna" (Gayle Rankin) who is bringing up his grandchild with the help of her new boyfriend (Sid Sagar) of whom we get the distinct impression he doesn't approve. As his mission begins to take over his already rather eccentric life, his friends and his family begin to wonder if he hasn't lost the plot a bit and perhaps, just perhaps, "Kenneth" is going to have to abandon his passion for the old and embrace a new one for the future? This is one of those gentle comedies that us Scots do quite well and Mullan presents us with quite an amiable character who is obviously still having issues with grief, loneliness and maintaining a sense of purpose. The plot, though, is all a bit too thin and it sort of manoeuvres itself in and out of scenarios from which there is really only one exit. It's just a bit too predictable and aside from the cheekily, sometimes sensitively, engaging effort from Mullan the acting isn't really much to write home about. There is some beautiful scenery, and it also reminds us to respect communities when we visit them, but it's not really laugh out loud and I felt it rather petered out a bit.

This movie is deeply sad, deeply mortal and deeply counter popular culture. It details the lives and times of a man who is almost completely isolated from the world which he should inhabit and how his sadness and isolation channels itself into the unearned glory of a past madman. It tugs at all the right heartstrings, is fantastically acted, is absurd and nonsensical at the best times and is overall a really lovely movie. I am very happy to have seen it and I recommend it to everyone.