'Sunshine on Leith' (PG)

****

Based on the stage play of the same name, Sunshine on Leith follows the lives of two young soldiers recently home from Afghanistan. The film follows their trials and tribulations as they settle back into civilian life in Scotland, with added musical numbers based on the songs of The Proclaimers.

Yes, this is a musical but it isn’t afraid to shy away from the bittersweet nature of life. The opening sequence features our two heroes in the back of a tank in Afghanistan, instantly drawing us into a world of dread. As the camera pans along the line of young faces, they begin to sing ‘Sky Takes the Soul’ in an especially moving rendition. This sets the tone for the rest of the film and an overall premise – that everyone has scars but happiness can be found if you look for it. This being a film about three separate, yet also intertwining, relationships there are the usual ups and downs but the charm of the film takes you along with it. The characters are believable in their wants and desires, although the final spat between Davy (George MacKay) and Yvonne (Antonia Thomas) feels a bit forced… but this does mean the film ends on a very uplifting note.

I hadn’t realised how conversational the songs of The Proclaimers are, so in the singing sequences it really does feel as though the characters are talking to each other naturally rather than singing. I was worried that Peter Mullen’s singing would be reminiscent of Pierce Brosnan’s attempts in Mamma Mia! but I needn’t have worried as he has a lovely, gruff voice. All the cast are good singers and there were no notes that made me cringe such as in Les Miserables. The premise of the film means that there is nothing here to really stretch an actor’s skills too far but there is a lot to enjoy, especially some of the dance sequences. There are some tear-jerker moments, and a truly disastrous 25^th wedding anniversary, but the film doesn’t stray into sentimentality which it so easily could’ve done.

Finally, get ready to have a ridiculous grin on your face after the grand finale.

Comments

'Mary Queen of Scots' (15)

**** Arriving on the shores of Scotland, Mary Stuart moves to reclaim her title and her position as Queen. A Catholic and with a claim to the throne of England, she immediately poses a threat to Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant and the last of the House of Tudor. The relationship between Mary Stuart and Elizabeth Tudor is one that has fascinated historians and artists alike for centuries. In a history that's dominated by male sovereigns, Mary and Elizabeth ruled alongside each other until Elizabeth had her cousin executed - surely that means that the two hated each other? In his play which premiered in 1800, Friedrich Schiller portrays Mary's last days, and the fraught relationship between the two women - one that is far from the 'black and white' dynamic that you might expect. Since then, numerous historians have revisited this momentous moment and dissected the connection between the two. One such biography is John Guy's Queen of Scots: The True Life ...

COVID-19 Special: 'The White Tiger' (15)

Director: Ramin Bahrani Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra Jones Where can I watch?: The White Tiger is streaming on Netflix . Rating: 4/5 Review: Aravind Adiga's novel The White Tiger rocketed into the international bestseller lists when it was published in 2008. A darkly satirical study of Indian's caste system, the Man Booker Prize winner tackled everything from class to corruption, religion to rooster coops. It's perhaps strange, considering the novel's success, that it took so long for The White Tiger to be adapted into a film, but as director Ramin Bahrain shows, it was probably worth the wait. Taking on the central role of servant Balram is Adarsh Gourav: a mercurial screen presence, Gourav guides us through Balram's development from wide-eyed, eager driver to disillusioned servant and beyond with a deft, dependable hand. Balram's evolution from start to finish is entirely believable and, more importantly, wholly watchable - it'...

'Riders of Justice' (15)

Director: Anders Thomas Jensen Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Lars Brygmann, Nicholas Bro Where can I watch?: Riders of Justice is in cinemas now Rating: 4/5 Review: There are some films that defy categorisation. For example, from watching the trailer for Riders of Justice, you might assume it to be some form of action comedy with a healthy dose of violence thrown in for good measure. However, Riders of Justice is actually far more complex than that, tackling themes of masculinity, mental health and even the existential alongside the occasional shoot out and grisly murder. At first, it appears to be about revenge - Mads Mikkelsen (looking particularly brutish) returns from a tour following the death of his wife in rail accident that could well be connected with a violent gang. Or was it all merely coincidence? Uncommunicative and unrelenting in his refusal to undertake therapy, Mikkelsen's Markus represent...

Eleanor Reviews

Search This Blog