Local Hero
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Mr Happer (Burt Lancaster) snores through a board meeting at Knox Oil & Gas. Plans to build an off shore oil refinery in Scotland are discussed in hushed tones so as not to disturb him.
An employee called Mac chosen for his Scottish name is subsequently sent to Scotland to buy up a remote village and its coastline.
The film challenges our perceptions of those who live in small rural communities. The canny villagers in the fictional village of Ferness are all looking forward to becoming millionaires. They play a crafty game of cat and mouse with the American, but who is the cat and who is the mouse?
You may also ask who exactly is the ‘local hero’? Is it the wily Ben who makes a living working the beach? Is it Marina the enigmatic marine biologist who, when told of the plans for the refinery says simply ‘No, I don’t see that happening here’ Is it Mr Urquhart who runs the hotel with his wife and doubles up as the village accountant?
The humour is gentle and light as a feather, although there are one or two moments that will slap you on the back and make you laugh out loud. Timeless themes of community, friendship and belonging are explored here and we see the hard edges of Mac gradually soften.
An employee called Mac chosen for his Scottish name is subsequently sent to Scotland to buy up a remote village and its coastline.
The film challenges our perceptions of those who live in small rural communities. The canny villagers in the fictional village of Ferness are all looking forward to becoming millionaires. They play a crafty game of cat and mouse with the American, but who is the cat and who is the mouse?
You may also ask who exactly is the ‘local hero’? Is it the wily Ben who makes a living working the beach? Is it Marina the enigmatic marine biologist who, when told of the plans for the refinery says simply ‘No, I don’t see that happening here’ Is it Mr Urquhart who runs the hotel with his wife and doubles up as the village accountant?
The humour is gentle and light as a feather, although there are one or two moments that will slap you on the back and make you laugh out loud. Timeless themes of community, friendship and belonging are explored here and we see the hard edges of Mac gradually soften.
The issues raised in the film are as relevant today as they ever were. Instead of Mr Happer with his billions buying up the Scottish coastline to build a refinery think Donald Trump with his billions buying up the Scottish coastline to build a golf course.
Donald Trump of course lacks both the humanity and the humour of Mr Happer.
Local Hero (1983) is a beautifully understated film that leaves you with a lingering smile long after it has finished. © Theresa Collins
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