The Road Dance: 1 (Hebrides)

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Meanwhile, the men from the village are fighting in the war, and news of their deaths is slowly revealed. Murdo, Kirsty's lover, writes letters from the front and promises to take care of her if anything happens to him. He even provides her with fare to New York, where his uncle lives. As the war continues and the situation on the island becomes increasingly difficult, Kirsty must make a difficult decision about her future

Hermione Corfield, who has appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, is set to star as main character Kirsty.He trusted us, knowing our deep desire to bring this story to the big screen was going to be as true to his book as we possibly could.” If you are familiar with the book, you may find that the ‘twist’ is revealed too easily and too early. If you enjoy the costumes of The Outlander, this has similar vibes. If you like your films fast paced with lots of chaotic action, then The Road Dance is not your usual watch, but don’t dismiss it out of hand; a change of pace and genre may be just what you need right now. If you love seeing literature laced through your viewing, you will adore The Road Dance. If you want to provoke a discussion with young people about the issues involved, there is a whole workshop based around this film begging to be written. If you are someone who has been affected by sexual trauma, then I simply want to warn you that that is included, but to reassure you that the resolution of the film is overwhelmingly heartening. I followed up by watching the movie and delighted at the scenery, accents and musical score that enhanced my immersion into the story and sense of place.

It was the power of the story that drew me first. Everything else followed from there. I found that when I began writing The Road Dance, I had a strong sense of place and community because of my family connections and the time had spent there. After the positive reaction to The Road Dance, especially people’s appreciation of the setting, it made sense to set my other stories there. My most recent novel, Home (Luath Press 2021), could only have been set in the Western Isles because it charts the lives of different generations who pass through one home. That doesn’t really happen in urban areas.” In news, I’m used to a story appearing on screen by the end of the day. It’s a completely different timescale with a film.Ide, Wendy (22 May 2022). "The Road Dance review – a sweeping Hebridean weepie". The Guardian . Retrieved 24 October 2023.

It has changed significantly since I first remember going and there are supermarkets and broadband and all that you would expect from modern living. It’s a different pace of life, though. But that’s part of the draw, I suppose.” Credit: Parkland Entertainment She is in love with a man named Murdo, who is interested in poetry and wants to emigrate to the United States. However, before he can do so, he must go to fight in World War I. At a dance to send off the village's young men to war, Kirsty is raped. She tells no one, and the local doctor who treats her injuries makes the rape her secret. Maryilene and I sent the book on to a publicist in London we worked with on Tommy. We sent the book onto Bob Last who was our producer on Tommy, and we had some opinions from these different people. While it is unknown whether the film will appear in cinemas or on a streaming service, Maryilene said that the project has already generated a lot of buzz in the industry. Hermione Corfield delivers a strong performance as Kirsty, and the cinematography captures the beauty and loneliness of the isolated island. However, the film fails to deliver the emotional impact that the subject matter demands. The story touches on issues of patriarchy and parochialism, but these themes are not explored in-depth. The film also suffers from comparison to Terence Davies' Sunset Song, which is a more nuanced and complex portrayal of women's experiences in a historical setting.

I hadn’t even thought of it until the actor David Hayman first suggested it when he came into STV for an interview.

Wiseman, Andreas (30 June 2023). "Music Box Takes U.S. Rights To Edinburgh Film Festival Winner 'The Road Dance' Starring Hermione Corfield". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 24 October 2023. Obviously, distribution presents a whole new approach and dynamic with all movie houses throughout the world being closed,” she said. Alexander, Michael (14 May 2022). "The Road Dance: A 'little gem of a film' about hope and grief in the Hebrides". The Courier (Dundee) . Retrieved 24 October 2023. Hall, Sandra (7 December 2022). "There's little joy to be found in the harsh and secretive Road Dance". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 24 October 2023. First and foremost, it is the land and seascape. The island beaches are beautiful and quiet and such a contrast to the hectic life of the city. Time slips away when you are sitting on a shoreline as the sea strokes the sand and the wind shifts around you. History is never far away, and I can see the marks of my forebears all around me and that gives me an incredibly strong connection.” Credit: Parkland Entertainment

What people are saying about The Road Dance

Under the watchful eyes of family and neighbours young people clutch a bible,keep up appearances and enjoy dances as a way to socialise,snatch intimate moments and add joy to their hardworking lives. This was quite dark, to say the least. I guess it was sort of well done—it’s almost so dark that all other aspects are hard to think about. The sixteen-year-old Kirsty Macleod, played beautifully by Hermione Corfield, is introduced to us as she helps to plant potatoes, a traditional crop of the island. Her mother Mairi (Morven Christie) reminds her, “Eyes up, Kirsty.” In those three words we discover the correct way to plant potatoes, but we are also alerted to the fact that Kirsty is a dreamer whose own eyes are constantly looking outwards, beyond the constraints of her tight-knit community. The tragedy is that as the story unfolds, her dreams are curtailed as her options disappear, and her ability to think bigger is diminished; her spirit crushed by the actions of someone else. The hope and possibility come in the knowledge that that community whose values and moral standpoints can be claustrophobic, damning and suffocating at times, also has the capacity to form a sustaining network of support and compassion when needed.