Closer showing a dream come true for film maker
An audience of more than 50 enjoyed an award-winning documentary made by a film director with strong connections to Arran when the Screen Machine was in Brodick recently.
Karen Guthrie visited the island for the showing of her autobiographical film The Closer We Get, a bittersweet story which goes under the skin of an astonishing story of broken dreams, loyalty and, perhaps, redemption. It is told by a reluctantly dutiful daughter, Karen herself, who was working as a film-maker in London when her mother Ann had a devastating stroke that took Karen back to care for her in her Ayrshire hometown.
But Karen isn’t the only one who returns in crisis. Her prodigal father, the endearing but unfathomable Ian, also reappears after years of separation from Ann.
Reunited so unexpectedly, Karen seizes her camera to go under the skin of the family story before it’s too late to come to terms with the aftermath of the secret her father had tried, and failed, to keep from them all and to find that Ann’s stroke has, in fact, thrown them a lifeline. The documentary has won numerous awards and is highly acclaimed by critics. Karen has long family connections to Arran. Her great grandmother, Mrs Allison, lived in Whiting Bay for many years and the family kept her house on until about 2000. Karen was accompanied by members of her family, who also appeared in the film, and after the free showing did a question and answer session with the audience. The event was supported by Lottery Scotland within ‘See Beyond Stroke’, a campaign that has been built around the film to raise awareness of stroke.
Karen said: ‘After the screening several old friends of my family said hello and it was a delight to catch up. I want to thank everyone in the audience for coming along and for their insightful comments and questions about the film. It was a dream come true!’