Local Hero

One of the best British films ever made, this is a welcome re-release and restoration of a classic fish-out-of-water comedy. Mac MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) is sent by his employer Knox Oil to acquire the village of Ferness in the Scottish Highlands. On meeting his local fixer (Peter Capaldi in an early-career role), he realises that the quick deal he’d hoped to make isn’t not going to be so easy, despite the pressure from his boss (Burt Lancaster). Will the locals sell up and change their way of life?

Director Bill Forsyth (Gregory’s Girl, Housekeeping) brought a rare tenderness to this story, with an insider’s eye for the particularities and paces of Scottish culture. Featuring a classic yearning score from Dire Straits’ Marc Knopfler, Local Hero is a  gentle classic with a mythic quality.

Directed by Bill Forsyth
Cast includes Peter Riegert, Burt Lancaster, Peter Capaldi
Cert 12A