"echoes a vulnerable beauty, one that’s held by the older generation, whose appreciation of the world seems so much stronger than in the younger generation"

Edie stars BAFTA nominee, Sheila Hancock, Paul Brannigan and Kevin Guthrie. The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June, 2017.

It’s “never too late for you, Edie!,” are the words spoken by the Owner of the café Edie regularly frequents, giving her the necessary incentive to pursue a mountaineering dream to climb Inverness.

After a long hiatus Mutant Chronicles and Lighthouse director Simon Hunter returns with a new film, this time, however, it is not a ‘genre piece’ but instead centres around atonement and growing old.  Yes, Edie, a heartfelt drama was an original idea by Hunter, which follows the story of Edie, an 83-year old lady, who faces the very real prospect of entering a residential home.

She forewent the best years of her life to care for her recently deceased husband, theirs was a loveless marriage, and his death at the beginning of the film brings a flurry of regrets to the surface. It is her daughter’s intention to put her in a home, at which point she stumbles across a back-pack, triggering memories inside her, of her father and the trip they never managed to take together.

Hunter, known for his breath-taking visuals films Edie on location in Sutherland, Scotland on Suilven Mountain. Ill-equipped for the climb Edie crosses paths with the local mountaineering shop owner and guide, Johnny, played by Kevin Guthrie. He agrees to provide her with the guidance she needs but doesn’t think she will actually go through with it.

Writer Elizabeth O’Halloran and director Simon Hunter set up the initial moments of the film well, allowing sufficient time to establish a relationship between Edie and the voyeur.  The sound is also used as an effective tool to paint a picture of those memories held by Edie.

A gentle comedic rapport arises between the two principal characters, she with her unfulfilled goals, and he with doubts over his relationship. This emotional bond is what seals the film together, as its recognisable story arc is acted with a passion by Hancock. Hers and Guthrie’s chemistry is nothing short of contagious.

The Scottish back-drop is captured most beautifully by cinematographer, August Jakobsson. An 84-year old Hancock puts in a strong emotional performance, where beauty transcends across the screen, as I found to also be the case in the recent West End play, Harold and Maude.

Edie echoes a vulnerable beauty, one that’s held by the older generation, whose appreciation of the world seems so much stronger than in the younger generation.