Cromarty, Black Isle, 4-6 December 2009

Giulietta Masina in a scene from Fellinis La Strada

FOR THE third year running, Cromarty turned itself into a cross between Sundance and Brigadoon for what is cunningly billed as “My Favourite Film Festival”. This year’s favourite films were chosen by directors Gillies Mackinnon and Paul McGuigan; producer Andrea Calderwood; politician Charles Kennedy; writer, standup comedian and occasional banjo player A.L. Kennedy; actors Sanjeev Kohli, Paul Riley and Johnny Meres; and Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh.

The weather on Friday evening was cold and clear, ideal for ‘Northern Exposure’ – short documentary films screened under the glittering stars on a whitewashed gable end wall in the supermarket car park.

Warmed by glowing chimineas and free drams courtesy of the nearby Balblair distillery, the audience was enthralled by what are essentially the film equivalent of miniature paintings. (If there is any other public screening where both dogs and children are welcome, I have yet to hear of it). The perfect introduction to the quirkiness of Cromarty, it’s an unmissable experience.

What next? Charles Kennedy’s favourite, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Paul Riley’s choice of Duck Soup, or La Strada? Gillies Mackinnon’s selection of Fellini’s neorealist masterpiece won out over Bowie and the Marx Brothers, and did not disappoint. A story which in other hands could have been depressing or even cloying was made life-affirming by the gamine beauty and luminous acting of Fellini’s wife, Giuletta Masina, abetted by Anthony Quinn in arguably his best ever role.

Afterwards, Mackinnon discussed the film with festival co-director David Gilbert – these are billed as question and answer sessions but usually turn into an enjoyable general conversation with the audience, and this was no exception.

What every festival needs is somewhere warm and welcoming to sit down and recharge batteries with coffee while striking up a conversation with old friends, fellow guests and audience members. The Old Brewery more than filled this role, festively decorated and serving delicious home made soup – and popcorn.

Friday night’s late horror movie, Twilight, was unusual for an American vampire film about teenage love, being set in a world of constant rain and disconcertingly pale complexions (no, not Fort William).

Saturday passed in a non-stop cinematic blur, starting with a window into the past courtesy of Scottish Screen Archives. Ricky Ross’ and Lorraine McIntosh’s selection, The Apartment, starred another luminously beautiful gamine, Shirley Maclaine, in uncharacteristically restrained mode opposite the peerless Jack Lemmon.

The camera coyly panned away from the application of a hypodermic needle but did not flinch as the same hand slapped Maclaine’s face repeatedly – a telling marker for changing attitudes in the last half century.

The Last King of Scotland, introduced by its producer, Andrea Calderwood, was a film which had, she said, caused her backers to question the casting of the weak (Forrest Whitaker) and the unknown (James McEvoy) – rarely can casting have been so triumphantly vindicated.

Saturday’s late night popcorn-assisted movie, the Scottish-made low budget success Outpost, was satisfyingly scary, and the presence of Nazi zombie actor Johnny Meres among us added more than a frisson when the lights came up.

And so it continued on Sunday, a succession of great films and magical moments at what is fast becoming everyone’s favourite film festival, led and run by the closeknit Cromarty community but welcoming the whole world.

© Jennie Macfie, 2009

Links

• Cromarty Film Festival
• Jennie Macfie