True North Review
by John Stakes
What a catch of a film! Imagine the predicament. The captain and three man crew of a storm tossed trawler are heading back to Peterhead from Ostend. Their cargo – a hold filled with dying illegal Chinese immigrants who outnumber the fish caught so far.
The hook - enough money to stave off bankruptcy.
The line - they need more time to catch enough fish so as not to arouse suspicion from the authorities when they eventually land.
The sinker - one of the human cargos is found caught up in the next catch.
Director Steve Hudson and his cast of "Ken Loach faithfuls" cranked up the tension and claustrophobia in equal measure as the drama intensified into tragedy relieved only by the sight of the one survivor – a young stowaway girl as she boarded a bus to whatever fate awaited her on the Scottish mainland.
This was taut reality British film making at its powerful best which netted and gripped a very large audience of 150 public and club members alike in what is proving to be a hugely popular season which approaches its climax with the 2008 Film Festival starting on the 8ththFebruary.
