Stories, Memories and Memorabilia Meetings on Monday 18th June in the Victoria Hall Cromarty and on Thursday 21st June in Resolis Memorial Hall. Both meetings start at 7:30 and refreshments will be served.

In September Resolis Community Arts are planning an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the shooting of Another Time, Another Place on the Black Isle.

In 1982 a young film director called Michael Radford made his first feature film, Another Time, Another Place (based on the book by Jessie Kesson), much of it shot on location in and around the Black Isle. Set in rural Scotland in the final year of WW2 the film boldly explores the concerns arising out of the relationship between a trio of Italian POWs and a girl stifling in an environment of loveless labour. The film was produced by Simon Perry and starred Phyllis Logan and Giovanni Mauriello and also featured Grigor Fisher and Paul Young. A large number of local people were also involved as extras and service providers, and the film is still discussed with enthusiasm and affection whenever the opportunity arises.

This was the beginning of illustrious careers for many of those involved. Michael Radford has built an international reputation as a fine film-maker, e.g. Il Postino, White Mischief and most recently The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino. Similarly Simon Perry has had a long career as a producer and now heads the Irish Film Board.

Phyllis Logan, Paul Young and Grigor Fisher have become fine actors and household names here in Scotland.

The film attracted high praise on its release in 1983 – “Cast, shot and cut with outstanding effectiveness the film emerges as a generous delight, almost exotically moving.” – although it is rarely screened today.

Resolis Community Arts are keen to include film in their events programme and to date have promoted two evenings of short films by the Cromarty film-maker Don Coutts, the director of American Cousins. Both evenings were sell-outs provoking lively discussions with Don on all aspects of film-making.

Thus there is a proven appetite for “film” in the community and a local screening of Another Time Another Place in “the land of its birth” became an ambition that we had hoped to have achieved in 2003. Initially the film proved to be difficult to track down in any format. Don Coutts suggested that we make a direct approach to Simon Perry, the producer and that we should consider inviting him to a screening. He made the initial contact on our behalf and precipitated correspondence with Simon Perry and indirectly with the director, Michael Radford,. Both immediately agreed to participate in a screening. Agreeing a date in their hectic, world-wide schedules proved difficult and in 2004 the attempt was put on hold. However we continued to develop our idea and made contact with the principle actress, Phyllis Logan, who said that she would also be delighted to participate if she possibly could.

It is evident that we have tapped into a huge reservoir of goodwill that surrounded the making of the film, and that there is the potential to create an event of significance to the local population and the wider highlands.

This anniversary coincides with the Highland Year of Culture which has enabled Resolis Community Arts to obtain additional funding for the event. Funding has also been forthcoming from Awards For All and HIE and the result of a current application to Scottish Screen to complete the financial package is eagerly awaited.

The event is planned to run over a three day period in early September and strenuous efforts are being made to locate and invite as many of the cast and crew as possible. The participation of the locals involved in the film is important for the success of the event and they are invited to come along to one of two gatherings to relate their stories and memories and bring any memorabilia they may have. Meetings will be held on Monday 18th June in the Victoria Hall Cromarty and on Thursday 21st June in Resolis Memorial Hall. Both meetings start at 7:30 and refreshments will be served.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute, or for further information call David Gilbert on 01381 610 204.