Four Smashing Scottish Films

This year’s Glasgow Film Festival is in full swing, so we thought it would only be right to jump on the band wagon and celebrate Scotland’s contribution to the wonderful world of motion pictures.

Without further ado, here are four smashing Scottish films that are either about, inspired by or set in Scotland…

Macbeth (1971)

Roman Polanski’s no holds barred adaptation of the Shakespearian classic Macbeth may have been released back in 1971, but much like the play, this Scottish movie is timeless. Of course, the story is set in Scotland, but parts of the film were actually filmed in Wales and Northumberland.

Highlander (1986)

The rugged backdrop of the Scottish Highlands serve as the perfect setting for this fantasy epic. Christopher Lambert stars as Connor ‘The Highlander’ McLeod, an immortal Scottish warrior who must defeat the last of his equally immortal opponents. When it comes to winning, there can be only one!

Shallow Grave (1994)

Set in Edinburgh, Danny Boyle’s darkest of black comedies stars a young Ewan McGregor and is centred around three friends trying to decide what to do with their flatmate’s corpse and a suitcase full of cash. As you can probably imagine, it doesn’t end well.

Trainspotting (1996)

It may be another Danny Boyle and Ewan McGregor combo, but no Scottish film collection would be complete with the one and only Trainspotting, which is based on Irvine Welsh’s originally novel of the same name, is set in Glasgow and also stars Robert Carlyle, Ewan Bremner and Johnny Lee Miller, among others.

If this has made your feet a wee bit itchy and you would like to go and pay a visit to bonny Scotland, we have a fine selection of Scottish short breaks for your browsing pleasure.

What is your favourite Scottish film?