The Road Dance: 1 (Hebrides)

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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.

W hen watching The Road Dance for the first time, you get a strong feeling you know which way it will go. With the themes of war running throughout, in this case The Great War, which ravaged small communities such as the one depicted in the film, a viewer would lean towards thinking this would be the focus of the story. But they’d be wrong. The heartbreak and tragedy of sending young boys off to fight an enemy, thousands of miles away, for a seemingly unnecessary cause, makes for an emotional storyline itself. However, the real focus of the story is those left behind, and without giving too much away, how a series of tragedies affected one young girl and her family.Maryilene, who understood the family-centric “small-ness” of Scotland through her parents’ roots on the Isle of Bute, worked hard behind the scenes to convince the people of Lewis that they were serious about the project and keeping islanders safe. I hadn’t even thought of it until the actor David Hayman first suggested it when he came into STV for an interview. 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. 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.

My previous acting experience involved the challenging role of playing a newsreader in a TV drama. And my voice was overdubbed with an English accent. Kirsty and Murdo discuss the possibility and dream of living in America. They secretly pledge to marry and openly declare their love forever to each other. Everyone said ‘look this is just too dark, you can’t make this movie and expect anybody to come out of here without feeling it’s time to go home and jump off a cliff’, figuratively speaking. The road dance itself. We had the whole cast together and we tried to keep spirits up and make it look like a party when a hurricane was coming in! There was also a swimming scene that was crazy to film, it was so cold. I had to just scream and run in.

The Road Dance Plot

The Road Dance begins with a gorgeously idyllic scene of a cove on the Isle of Lewis, a painted fishing coble pulled up onto the shore, cliffs that both protect and threaten, and a lacy network of waves that edge the dark seas, as a child and her father swim and picnic together. This opening sequence sets the seal on a visual feast of stunning photography and a colour palette of deep teals, charcoal, slate and pebble greys, dark blues and lichen greens that carries through from beginning to end, the tonal variations reflecting points where oppression smothers or lifts. 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 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. I loved the war scene too. They cleared an old quarry, and it was so atmospheric to act in. That was an amazing day, that all the boys really enjoyed.” The Road Dance scene. Credit: Parkland Entertainment What was your favourite memory from making The Road Dance?

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. As well as beautiful scenery, inspirational acting and frequent dramatic twists, expect an emotional journey, so keep your tissues at the ready. Even if you have read the book, there may be some surprises along the way. The Making of The Road Dance The director, Richie, kindly suggested I could appear as an extra. I’m going to be in the road dance scene. Enjoying a ceilidh shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for me,” he said. The authenticity of filming on the island where events happened, adds so much. Weather conditions, short daylight hours, the quality of the light in that place, historical buildings, local people enlisted as extras, musicians from the area, and that extraordinary raw scenery, could not have been emulated anywhere else, and the production’s full investment in the Isle of Lewis shines through. Originally, this film premiered at The Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2021, and there is a deep sense of ‘rightness’ about that, as it is a Scottish film through and through, made during Covid on a relatively low budget, using smatterings of Gaelic, authentic Schottische routines, the practicalities of a crofting lifestyle, and referencing things that have their roots in that unique heritage – the road ceilidh (or dance) being the main one, but it’s general release gives it the wider audience it deserves. There already is quite a very strong, positive buzz throughout the industry based on the screenplay alone, which we are enormously pleased about.”

The Road Dance Cast

It’s hugely exciting. It was a long road to get here with a lot of let downs along the way. At times I didn’t think it would happen and a lot of productions do fall by the wayside. But the American producers – Jim Kreutzer and Maryilene Blondell – were tenacious in wanting to make it happen because they believed so strongly in the story. The first time I saw the film on the silver screen was a special moment.” The film was premiered at the 2021 Edinburgh International Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Film. [5] The film was released on 20 May 2022. [6] Critical response [ edit ]

We walked a very thin line between telling the true story – it was based on true events – yet at the same time making it entertaining and not so terribly dark and depressing that no one would want to see it.Clarke, Donald (20 May 2022). "The Road Dance: A pleasant, middling sort of story". The Irish Times . Retrieved 24 October 2023. 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. Would you like to have your home in America Father?’ Her father was silent for a moment as he looked to the ship before he stooped and swept her up in his strong arms. 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.