I’ll tell you this, gritty films rule Scots Baftas

Peter Mullan’s film Neds, a hard-hitting portrayal of teenage gang life in 1970s Glasgow, and Morag McKinnon’s Donkeys, about a working-class man, both received four nominations when the categories were announced yesterday.

The entertainment category saw nominations for Rab C Nesbitt, Limmy’s World and Burnistoun, all of which are distinctive for their dark working-class humour.

In drama, the crime thriller The Field of Blood, about a young journalist investigating a serial killer in early 1980s Glasgow, dominated the best actor category, taking all three nominations, as well as receiving a nod in the best writer category.

Meanwhile, the controversial documentary The Scheme received a nomination for its stark portrayal of life on a housing estate in Kilmarnock.

Media expert Dr John Cook, of Glasgow Caledonian University, said he was not surprised that the nominations were dominated by programming that reflected the grittier, harder side of Scotland, as they were a “default setting” for Scottish productions during recessions.

“The stereotypes it represents are powerful things and it is why they [production companies] might want to go to a default position.” he said.

“It makes sense in a difficult financial climate to try and default back to what used to be called “Clydeside-ism”, representing the working classes.

“It may be that there is also an element of social solidarity with the people struggling with the recession.

“I think it’s also to do with a lack of money. When there’s a lack of financing, it’s easier to take a camera into a housing estate than anything else.

“In times of economic boom, it’s useful for Scotland to position it as a cool nation to attract investment. But when that’s lacking from external sources, it makes sense for Scotland to default to its gritty past.”

Scotsman film critic Alistair Harkness agreed that the Scottish film industry’s natural default setting was to produce dark and hard-hitting films, but added that Neds was of a high quality that set it apart from other similar films.

“The reason that I think it is the default setting is because it is cheap. It’s cheaper than spending money on doing an action film of some sort, but it’s also cheap in the sense that it’s a cheap form melodrama.

“It’s an easier way to say that you’re doing something worthwhile, but it’s harder to write a really good comedy or some similar genre film. Given the number of great crime writers in Scotland, is surprising there aren’t more detective films or something similar.”

The Scottish Baftas have been on hiatus due to a wider re- organisation of Bafta awards, and so the awards will cover programs from the past two years.

Jude MacLaverty, director of Bafta Scotland, said the pause had given the awards a ‘bumper year’ to judge from. “The British Academy Scotland Awards demonstrate the wealth of talent we have within our country.

“Our juries have been overwhelmed by the quality and originality of the work submitted, and the shortlisted nominees demonstrate the innovative and original work Scotland is producing.”