Film on farmer to be shown at famous New York festival
A DOCUMENTARY about a farmer from West Wales will be premiered at the famous Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Heart Valley follows the day in the life of sheep farmer Wilf Davies, from the Teifi Valley.
It beat more than 7,000 submissions to secure its place in the film festival.
The short film, directed by Christian Cargill, is based on an article written by Kiran Sidhu in the Guardian last year. At the time the article was published, Wilf was looking after 71 sheep, had eaten the same supper for the last 10 years and had only left Wales once 30 years ago.
The compelling article struck a chord with many during the coronavirus pandemic. In the article, Wilf shared his love for Wales and the place he had called home all his life.
He said: “My boyhood was spent helping my family on the farm. I have never wanted to run away from it, even as a young lad. This valley is cut in the shape of my heart. I once visited a farm in England, about 30 years ago; that was the only time I left Wales.”
The farmer also shared his day-today routine, including farming and what he ate every day. “I’ve had the same supper for 10 years, even on Christmas Day,” he revealed.
“Two pieces of fish, one big onion, an egg, baked beans and a few biscuits at the end. For lunch I have a pear, an orange and four sandwiches with paste. But I allow myself a bit more variety; I’ll sometimes have soup if it’s cold.
“When I go to the supermarket, I know exactly what I want. I’m not interested in other food. I’ve never had Chinese, Indian, French food.
Why change? I’ve already found the food I love.
“Whether it’s Easter Day or Christmas Day, being a farmer means every day is the same. The animals still need to be fed. Feeding the sheep and seeing how happy they are makes me happy, too. They never ask for anything different for supper.”
Despite having the same routine every day, the farmer said he wouldn’t have it any other way. He said: “I never got married, and it’s not something that I’ve ever regretted. It just didn’t happen, and I can say with confidence that I am happy as I am. I’m married to this farming life.
“Just because I eat the same food and haven’t left the valley, it doesn’t mean that I don’t like to know what is going on in the world. I listen to a Welsh radio station every night to keep me updated. I’m always interested in local farming stories, and new developments happening in the area. If someone offered me £2m to move, I would tell them to keep it.
“Most evenings I walk right up to the top of the valley.
“I look down and everything looks small and far away. And I feel like I’m on top of the world.”
According to journalist Kiran Sidhu, when Wilf found out the film would be going to New York, he cried. In an article with The Guardian, she said: “He was so overwhelmed. There was something quite beautiful about the fact that after I told him this news, he turned away and tended to his sheep.
“Some people can remain unchanged, no matter how alluring and exciting the news. He really is that contented man who loves the life that he leads – no matter what the world may tell him.”
Heart Valley will have its world premiere as part of Tribeca Film Festival’s 2022 official selection in June.