Michael Radford | 1983 | Scotland | 15

Based on the novel by Jessie Kesson, this unsung classic of Scottish cinema explores the tensions in a remote rural community during World War II. A shy housewife constrained by a loveless marriage and a life of hard labour, Janie’s world is turned upside down by the arrival of three Italian prisoners of war, awakening in her a new sense of passion and possibility. Featuring a wealth of Scots and Italian folk song, Oscar-nominated Michael Radford’s debut feature is a sensitive portrayal of conflicted experience within a close-knit rural community.

This screening was introduced by a live performance of folk songs from the East Coast of Scotland where the film was shot, sung by Steve Byrne (Malinky).