The Road Dance

This powerful costume drama set on the Western Isles won the Audience Award at 2021’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. Adapted from John Mackay’s book, it tells the story of a small community during the tense build up to World War One.

Kirsty is a young woman living with her sister and widowed mother. Prior to his untimely death, Kirsty’s father had encouraged her to seek a life beyond the island, and when romance burgeons between her and local lad Murdo, the opportunity to see the world seems within reach. When the young men must leave the island for the war a road dance is held in their honour, and on that night that Kirsty’s life takes a dramatic and tragic turn.

The film offers an unusual perspective on war – the women left behind, struggling to carry on, often under patriarchal control. Hermione Corfield delivers a terrific performance as Kirsty, and Mark Gatiss is impressive as the village doctor.

“As a visually stunning and generally enjoyable period drama, it’s a welcome addition – and a rare Scottish one.” The Skinny

“The themes bring a powerful, feminist undercurrent to the film too, looking at a war-time drama from a new perspective, away from the trenches and the war-rooms, and instead at the women left behind” Hey U Guys

15: contains sexual violence