What does it take to heed the call of the bright city lights and what is the price paid by those who are left behind?

What has happened to the aspirations of the west? Cyril Farrell and Terence McDonald give voice to the lonely reality felt in the west of Ireland as they weave a tale set amongst the desolate cottages in its barren acres. Generations share their regrets and mourn the loss of those forced to leave in search of a new future.  Rusted machinery, lonely bachelors and abandoned homes all bear witness to the harsh fact that you cannot live on beauty or support your family on folklore.
 

Terence McDonald (1926 – 2001) was a teacher, film historian, film collector and a pioneering amateur filmmaker from Derry. He made 35 films in his lifetime covering a wide range of themes such as mental health, travelling theatre, and portraits of his home town, Derry. His playful fiction films often pay homage to classic cinema moments from Peyton Place to Potemkin, from Chaplin to Jacques Tati. Terence McDonald undertook all aspects of production - filming, sound recording and editing and produced a body of remarkably sophisticated work. This film is courtesy of his son, Peter Mc Donald.

A Fairview Films production

Produced and Directed by Terence Mc Donald

Narrated by Dermot McNeice

Written by Cyril Farrell

Music Tom Lavelle, Gemma Hasson, Finbar McLaughlin

Digitised as part of Unlocking Film Heritage

• British Film Institute
• BFI Player