Hinterland

Hinterland is the début directorial feat by actor turned director Harry Macqueen. 

Macqueen spent the vast majority of his working life as a struggling actor in a number of small roles – most notably in 2008's Me and Orson Welles, before deciding to take the balance of his career in to his own hands – and out of the casting directors' – by making a film of his own.

And so far, it's been to great success: Hinterland has been garnering quite an astonishing amount of buzz (not bad for a film that cost only £10,000 to make) and looks set to establish Macqueen as a leading light of independent British filmmaking.

The simple narrative, written, directed, and acted in by Macqueen, focuses upon the re-kindling of an old friendship between Harvey, (played by Macqueen) and Lola (played by Bristolian folk singer-turned-actress Lori Campbell).

When Harvey learns that Lola is returning home after a lengthy glut of years abroad, he decides to take her on a trip from London to Devon, to the seaside cottage where they spent much of their youth.

Hinterland looks to be a subtle and tender account of the relationship between these two characters, and set largely in the stunning scenery of Southern England it looks to a carefully edited, stunning visual feast for lovers of the windswept, rugged British countryside. The tale tells of missed opportunities, and 'a love seemingly out of reach'; this indie take on a traditional road-trip narrative looks, from the lauding it has so far received, to be an understated British gem. 

The film has its premier screening on February 27^th at the iconic Curzon Soho (read about it in our list of London's best cinemas) followed by a Q&A with Macqueen as he discusses his challenges as a first-time director.