Story of Calum’s Road to be laid down on film
The true tale of a Raasay crofter who built a road in his ‘spare’ time to be immortalised on the big screen, writes Stephen Emerson
IT is a story of persistence and hard work and of one man’s determination to ensure that his island community could not only survive but thrive.
Calum Macleod, a Raasay crofter from Arnish, dreamt of connecting the north and south of the island by building the ‘impossible road’.
Specifically, he wanted to make it easier for his daughter to visit from neighbouring Skye, where she went to school.
With little interest or support from the authorities, Mr Macleod started the project himself around 1962 and used just a pick-axe, shovel and wheelbarrow to create the route.
Within ten years he completed almost two miles of the track as he juggled his past time of road building with his jobs of lighthouse keeper, crofter and postman.
Ever since, the road has been known as Calum’s Road.
Now, the remarkable story will be turned into a film told through the eyes of Mr Macleod’s daughter Julie Allan.
She remembers the years when her father would be rarely seen, given his free time was spent digging and laying the route into the land.
Parkland Pictures this week announced it will produce the film in association with Tall Tree Pictures. Location filming is expected to start early in 2019 in a bid to capture Scotland through the seasons with pre-production to begin in Glasgow over the next few months.
Ms Allan, of Dunfermline, said: “Dad started the road sometime in 1962, as otherwise he would only see his 12-year-old daughter five times a year.
“Some people said it was an impossible task, calling him a fool, but we knew that Dad had the determination and vision to see his task through and confound his critics.
“This he did to international acclaim.
“Travelling over the road now I always salute Dad’s effort, remembering his love for me had set him off on his Herculean task.”
By 1976, the road was able to take light vehicles, and in 1982 when the road was handed over to the council, the road was resurfaced and opened to the public.
John Cairns of Parkland Pictures said the story of Calum’s Road was “wonderful and courageous”.
Parkland’s John Cairns said: “We have an amazing script and plans for an exceptional cast, and this, coupled with the scenery available to us in Scotland, means we are confident we will bring this outstanding story to life.”
Based in Glasgow, the team are keen to film as much as possible in and around the authentic locations from the story.
Paul Forrest, producer at Tall Trees Pictures, said: “We are excited to be shooting in some of the most iconic Scottish locations using Scotland’s world class production talent and facilities. A film like this is an exceptional story for screen in which we will capture the very best Scotland has to offer filmmakers.”
The deal to get Calum’s Road on screen was negotiated by the writer and director Vincent Woods, John Cairns, CEO of Parkland Pictures and Tom Stewart, Acquisitions Director of Parkland Entertainment.
Woods has spent long periods of time on Raasay and said the time was right to tell the story.
He added: “I’m thrilled that I am working with Parkland to bring this important story to a global audience. 0 Calum Macleod (top and above) decided to build his own road on Raasay to make it easier for his daughter to visit from school. It has been know ever since as Calum’s Road (right). Parkland’s knowledge of the market and passion for this labour of love project makes them the perfect fit for this incredible story.
“Spending time with the family and the Raasay community over the last 28 years has, I feel, provided the ingredients to get the essence and structure of the story right.
“After all these years, I finally feel the story I am telling is the right one, and with all of the added character afforded by shooting in the most authentic Scottish Landscapes.”
Calum’s Road is due to be released by Parkland Entertainment in 2020.