• Directed by Bill Forsyth, 1983

“The modern world offers many alternatives to the security of the family unit.”

I was thinking about this movie a lot the past week or so, especially about the ending. An empty apartment, a ringing phone. The promise of change. A lovely, understated ending to a lovely and understated movie.

“Mac” MacIntyre works at an oil company, making deals that destroy the world. It’s the 80s, though, so he is pretty unbothered about it. He’s your typical cocksure 80s executive. His boss, an astronomy buff, sends him to Scotland to buy some land for a refinery- land currently occupied by the small town of Ferness. Mac must convince the locals to sell, a task easier said than done, especially when he begins himself to fall in love with the town and its people.

Every scene in this film is like one of the seashells Mac picks up off of the beaches of Ferness; natural, and one-of-a-kind. The film is unexpected, playful, endlessly warm-hearted. Watching it is like walking into a warm room, or a bar full of friendly strangers, and being handed a pint.

Connections: Peter Riegert, who plays Mac, also plays Ronald Zellman on The Sopranos. The score was composed by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.