Bill Forsyth may have to bear the reductive, buzzy distinction of having “put Scottish cinema on the map,” but he at least did so with both a disarming degree of separation — shifting the sensation of discovery onto his characters — and an expectedly warm familiarity. Originally an aspiring writer, Forsyth prioritizes novelistic detail over momentum, which allows him to poke fun at his country while also reveling in its low-key uniqueness, juggling breaks in perspective like they were the most graceful of chapter or paragraph breaks.
Part of Kicking the Canon — The Film Canon.
Published as part of InRO Weekly — Volume 1, Issue 7.
