Sunshine on Leith was the third most popular film in the UK over the weekend according to figures from the BFI, slightly behind Filth and The Prisoner.
The Edinburgh based feel-good film was shown at 400 screens across the UK and took £770,239 between Friday and Sunday, including £290,000 in Scotland.
The film, adapted from a stage show by Scottish playwright Stephen Greenhorn, stars George MacKay and Kevin Guthrie as Davy and Ally, two young squaddies who are newly returned to Edinburgh from Afghanistan after being involved in a roadside bombing which injures their close friend.
Ally returns to a long-running relationship with Davy’s sister Liz (Freya Mavor), who in turn sets up Davy with her friend Yvonne (Antonia Thomas).
Peter Mullan plays Rab, Liz and Davy’s father, who serenades his wife (Jane Horrocks) with Proclaimers’ classic ‘Oh Jean’ at their 25th wedding anniversary party at the Leith Dockers Club. He brings to mind Lee Marvin signing ‘Wandering Star’ in Paint Your Wagon only gruffer, whilst she produces a more than respectable Edinburgh accent.
With the party in full swing, things take a turn or the worse for all three relationships that night.
The sharp eyed viewer will also spot a cameo appearance by Craig and Charlie Reid who come across Davy and Ally singing ‘I’m on my way from misery to happiness today’ as they leave a pub in Constitution Street.
Although there are unlikely to be many Oscar nominations, there are fine performances all round, several iconic Edinburgh landmarks and of course thirteen Proclaimers hits including ‘Sunshine on Leith,’ ‘Letter from America,’ ‘Let’s get Married’ and of course ‘500 Miles,’ which makes this heart-warming, upbeat contemporary film well worth seeing.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
Best feel good film I’ve seen in ages and I see quite a few. So good I’m going to see it again. Wonderful music and scenery and the plots quite good as well.
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