Sunshine on Leith (2013)

Two soldiers return home to Edinburgh to resume their romantic and family lives.

Director:

Dexter Fletcher

Writers:

Stephen Greenhorn, Stephen Greenhorn (stage play)

Stars:

Paul Brannigan, George MacKay, Kevin Guthrie

1 win & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Brannigan	...	Ronnie
George MacKay	...	Davy
Kevin Guthrie	...	Ally
Jane Horrocks	...	Jean
Peter Mullan	...	Rab
Freya Mavor	...	Liz
John Spence	...	Brendan
Paul McCole	...	Ewan
Emily-Jane Boyle	...	Christine
Antonia Thomas	...	Yvonne
Jason Flemyng	...	Harry
Emma Hartley-Miller	...	Janice
Elaine M. Ellis	...	Morag (as Elaine Mackenzie Ellis)
Gayle Telfer Stevens	...	Francine
Sara Vickers	...	Eilidh

Storyline

Sunshine on Leith is based on the sensational stage hit of the same name, featuring music by pop-folk band The Proclaimers. The film follows the stories of Davy and Ally, who have to re-learn how to live life in Edinburgh after coming home from serving in Afghanistan. Both struggle to learn to live a life outside the army and to deal with the everyday struggles of family, jobs and relationships.

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Plot Keywords:

military service | afghanistan | edinburgh | scotland | 

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Taglines:

When it happens... there's nothing like it!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some suggestive and thematic material, language and brief violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the characters are portrayed as supporters of Hibernian Football Club, the club supported by the Proclaimer Twins, Craig Reid and Charlie Reid, who wrote all of the songs featured. Behind the bar in the "Let's Get Married" scene, a flag proclaims "Scottish Cup Winners 1902". Hibs did win the Scottish Cup in 1902, followed by an 114 year wait until they next won it in 2016.

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Goofs

When both Davy and Ally are walking down the street in army uniform, singing "I'm on my way" they stop to let a woman with a pushchair past. The pair salute the woman (which of course they shouldn't do), Davy salutes correctly, whereas Davy salutes Royal Navy style.

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Crazy Credits

The initial credits show the main characters in short outtakes from the film. The order is Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks, George Mackay, Antonia Thomas, Freya Mavor, Kevin Guthrie, Jason Flemyng, Paul Brannigan, Sara Vickers, Michael Beat (as Michael 'Cuban' Keat) and John Spence (as 'Wee' John Spence'). This is followed by a listing of the major crew (director, etc,) on a background of the city of Leith in sunshine. Then the credits revert to the traditional scrolling form, starting with the cast listed in order of appearance.

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Alternate Versions

The DVD contains the original ending, which was shot indoors, but was replaced at a cost of £500,000 by the ensemble ending shot in Edinburgh.

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Connections

Referenced in One Hit Wonderland: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers (2013)

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Soundtracks

Over And Done With
Written by Charlie Reid and Craig Reid
Performed by George MacKay, Kevin Guthrie, Antonia Thomas, Freya Mavor and Gayle Telfer Stevens

User Reviews

At Times Wonderful, At Times Not

This film is a series of interconnected situations regarding relationships, all based in the same family. Davy and Ally come back from combat, to seemingly the delight of everyone. Ally looks to rekindle his relationship with Liz, who is Davy's sister. Davy meets Liz's best friend Yvonne and they begin a relationship. Liz and Davy's parents Rab and Jean appear very happy about this. There, however, are secrets and actions that threaten to undermine all of the relationships. When the film is set to songs by the Scottish group The Proclaimers (American audiences will know them from their big hit 500 Miles (I'm Gonna Be),sung by the characters and others joining in, the movie is wonderful, it is vibrant and fun, along with sad and even heartbreaking. When the stories are told without music the movie falters, since it becomes almost like a soap opera. However, look past those moments and bask in the great city of Edinburgh and sing along if you can. Its those moments that make this film really worthwhile.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 2013 (UK)

Also Known As:

Sunshine on Leith

Filming Locations:

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,804,555

Company Credits

Production Co:

Entertainment Film Distributors, DNA Films, Black Camel Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1