Robert Rae / Scotland / 2012 / 148 min
Director Robert Rae retells the story of the 1926 general strike through anecdotes of the residents of Carhill in the heart of Fife’s once thriving coal fields in The Happy Lands, a new drama documentary that draws parallels between then and now. Following three families in the village, the film charts their unsuccessful seven month standoff with the Kingdom Coal Company when they demanded better pay, better hours and safer working conditions, whilst putting a very political edge on the action.
Made by Theatre Workshop and boasting a cast made up of former miners and their families, The Happy Lands is an eye opening and impressive piece of filmmaking. It beautifully combines the past with the present, proving that while decades have passed since the general strike took place, there is still so much work to do be done within society to make things fair. This is a film that takes a refreshing look at poverty at a time when there was no such thing as the welfare state, at exploitation of workers and the lower classes, and perhaps most importantly, protest and dissent, reminding us that we shouldn’t take our rights for granted. Showcasing the natural, raw talent of the cast and contrasting it with the natural beauty to make a film that needs to be seen by younger generations.
Showing as part of the Glasgow Film Festival 2013
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