Peter Wilson

Scottish Cinema of Dreams in China

An unusual evening in Beijing - a small pine forest, recreated in the National Film Archive (to smell like Scotland), and two wonderful films with links to Scotland, to launch the Scottish Film Festival in China.

Tilda Swinton and Marc Cousins introduced the films. They were recreating, in this huge, urban environment, the same magic that they have built up in their local film festival begun round a kitchen table in the highlands of Scotland, which has now become quite famous. There was something magical about sitting on beanbags, at the end of a small Scottish forest, with trees and light projected onto the walls, and watching the most wonderful, simple film from the 40's, I Know Where I'm Going. It was a love story set on the lonely, romantic West Coast of Scotland, and a reminder of what is really important in life.

Also a reminder to this de-racinated Scot of what an amazing country it is - and how good it is to be part of the world's first multi-national state.

If you are interested in more, the British Council website has it on www.britishcouncil.org.cn/sff For more on Scotland, try www.scotland.cn

Posted at 03:58 23 March 2009 by Peter Wilson  |  Comments[1]