Anglesey director’s Tryweryn bomber film up for Welsh Baftas:
MOVIE TELLS THE STORY OF CAPEL CELYN DROWNING
ANEW film telling the story of the controversial drowning of a Gwynedd village 60 years ago has been nominated for two prestigious awards.
“The Welshman” – directed by Anglesey filmmaker Lindsay Walker – documents the story of Owain Williams, one of the founders of Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (the Movement to Defend Wales).
Along with two others, Williams – now a councillor and former chairman of Gwynedd Council – was convicted and jailed for planting an explosive device on an electricity transformer at the Tryweryn reservoir project near Bala in 1963.
Several years later, Williams claims he was shadowed by secret police concerned he might play a part in disrupting the investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in July 1969.
After its premiere earlier this summer, the film has been nominated for two awards at the BAFTA Cymru ceremony next month.
Dozens of people were forced to leave their homes in Capel Celyn when the village was drowned to create a reservoir to provide water for Liverpool.
The project, which was opposed by every single Welsh MP, was granted permission despite massive objections.
“The Welshman” immerses its audience in Williams’ actions and the impact they had on the rest of his life.
It is Ms Walker’s first step into directing, following 10 years working in television and film.
Created with an allWelsh crew, the film features an original score created by David Railton and photography by Callum Glass.
Williams, now 86, is depicted in the film as a young man by his grandson Osian Grifford.
Describing his actions in the film, he said: “It was a matter of standing up to defend our land and our people.
“There were a number of reasons behind my thinking and my actions.”
Referring to the run-up to the investiture of Prince Charles, he added: “I was scared. I didn’t know what the secret service would do to me, so I carried a gun with me.”
Ms Walker said: “Although the story of Tryweryn has been told many times, this is a film like no other.
“It delves beyond and captures the heart of its audience.
“It was created with a very small crew, all residing in Wales, all with a passion to tell this story the way it deserves to be told.”
A fervent nationalist committed to an independent Wales, Owain Williams turned to the democratic route after his spell in prison and exile in Ireland.
He became the chairman of the Independent Wales Party as well as a member of, at different times, both the Welsh Labour Party and Plaid Cymru.
In May 2008, he was elected chairman of Llais Gwynedd after their emergence following the 2008 Welsh local elections.
BAFTA Cymru has announced the film has been nominated in the Short category, and producer Enlli Fychan Owain has been nominated in the Breakthrough category for her role.
The winners will be revealed in a digital ceremony hosted by Alex Jones next month.
The Welshman will be shown at Galeri Caernarfon on September 16 at 1.45pm and again at 7pm followed by a Q&A session with Ms Walker.