Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle

Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle is a 2007 Scottish Gaelic-language Scottish film by first-time director, Simon Miller from a story by Simon Miller and Joanne Cockwell. It stars Patrick Morrison/Pàdruig Moireasdan and the Gaelic writer and poet Angus Peter Campbell/Aonghas Pàdraig Chaimbeul. It is the first contemporary feature-length film in Scottish Gaelic[1] and was based on a previous Gaelic short film, Foighidinn - The Crimson Snowdrop, also by Miller.[2]

Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle
Film poster
Directed bySimon Miller
Screenplay bySimon Miller
Joanne Cockwell
Aonghas MacNeacail
Ian Finlay Macleod
Iseabail T NicDhòmhnaill
Story bySimon Miller
Joanne Cockwell
Produced byChristopher Young
StarringAngus Peter Campbell,
Pàdruig Moireasdan
CinematographyIan Dodds
Edited byAonghas MacAoidh
Music byJim Sutherland
Release date
  • 28 March 2007 (2007-03-28) (Celtic Film Festival)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageScottish Gaelic

Filming began in April 2006 around the Inaccessible Pinnacle at the top of Sgùrr Dearg in the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and was completed in August 2006. The film screened at the Celtic Media Festival in March 2007,[3] and made its world premiere at the 61st Edinburgh International Film Festival in August 2007.[1]

The word seachd (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ʃaxk]) in the title means "seven" and references the number of stories the grandfather originally told.[1]

Plot

When a young man, Angus, visits his dying grandfather in hospital he cannot hold back his boyhood quest for the truth - the truth behind the death of his parents and the truth behind his grandfather's ancient, incredible, fearful stories. Stories from the whole swathe of Gàidhealtachd history of poisoned lovers, bloody revenge, water-horses and Spanish gold. His grandfather hijacks Angus' life, for one last time leading him to one of Scotland's most treacherous mountains, the Inaccessible Pinnacle on the Isle of Skye, and an ancient truth he never expected to find.

BAFTA controversy

In the autumn of 2007, BAFTA refused to put the film, along with the Welsh-language film Calon Gaeth, forward as candidates for the Best Foreign Language Film Category at the 2008 Academy Awards. Christopher Young, the film's producer, claimed that the decision was "anti-Gaelic" and resigned his membership of BAFTA.[4][5][6] The issue was raised in the Scottish Parliament.[7]

Production

The film received funding from the Gaelic Media Service, BBC Alba, the Glasgow Film Office and Scottish Screen. It had a budget of £655,000 ($1.3m) and was shot on Skye in 2006.[7]

Reception

The film was nominated for 3 BAFTAs[8] and Miller for the Michael Powell Award[9] and was warmly received with comparisons drawn to works such as Big Fish and The Princess Bride.[1]

Cast
  • Angus Peter Campbell/Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul as Grandfather
  • Patrick Morrison/Pàdruig Moireasdan as Aonghas (aged 9)
  • Coll Macdonald/Colla Dòmhnallach as Aonghas (aged 20)
  • Dolina MacLennan as Grandmother
  • David Walker/Daibhidh Walker as Archie
  • Winnie Brook Young as Màiri
  • Chris Macdonald/Crìsdean Dòmhnallach as Donnchadh
  • Annie Macleod/Annie NicLeòid as Akira Gunn
  • Calum MacFhionghain as The Magician
  • Scott Handy as Patrick Loch
  • Toby Robertson as The Duke of Sutherland
  • Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir as Akira's father
  • Iain Macrae as Macdonald/An Dòmhnallach
  • Vidal Sancho as The Spaniard
  • Isabel NicRath as Sìleas
  • Meg Bateman as Sìleas' mother
  • Charles Quinnell/Tearlach Quinnell as Each Uisge/Water-horse
  • Kathleen MacInnes/Kathleen NicAonghais as Catriona
  • Eòghainn MacFhionghain as Calum
  • Angus Macdonald/Aonghas MacDhòmhnaill as The Eldest Son/Am Mac Bu Shine
  • Kathleen Macdonald/Kathleen NicDhòmhnaill as Ailsa Macleod/Eilis NicLeòid
  • Iain "Seonachan" MacLeòid as Alec
  • Aonghas Iain MacDhòmhnaill as Eòghainn
  • Lachlan Graham as Neach-Leanmhainn
  • Niall Caimbeul as Geàrrd/Neach-ciùil
  • Coinneach MacEalair Saighdear
  • Jim Sutherland as Neach-ciùil
  • Marian Lloyd as Neach-ciùil
  • Iseabail Strachan as Neach-ciùil
  • Fiona NicAsgaill as Neach-ciùil

References
  1. "The movie at the edge of the world". The Guardian.
  2. Scottish Cinema Now. Cambridge Scholas Publishing. 2009. p. 108. ISBN 9781443804134. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. The Celtic Media Festival Archived 3 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Dawtrey, Adam (5 October 2007). "BAFTA attacked over Oscars". Variety. Variety Media LLC. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  5. Chrichton, Torcuil (6 October 2007). "Gaels force the issue". HeraldScotland. Herald and Times Group. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  6. "Film producer quits in Oscar row". BBC. BBC. 3 October 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  7. Hunter, Allan (2 October 2007). "Seachd producer withdraws from BAFTA over Oscar snub". Screendaily. Media Business Insight Limited. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  8. "Gaelic film up for Scots BAFTAs". BBC.
  9. "Best of British: the Michael Powell Award". Screen Daily.
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