Iona 15

A striking and enthralling drama set against the stunning backdrop of the Inner Hebrides island of Iona, director Scott Graham’s follow-up to his award-winning debut feature Shell is a real delight, with impressively sustained performances astutely complemented by the starkly beautiful environment. 

Iona (Ruth Negga) and her teenage son Bull (Ben Gallagher) seek refuge from a violent crime back on the island where she was raised. Her return exposes Bull to the more gentle way of life she rejected when she left the island as a teenager and also resonates amongst those friends she had once left behind. An impressive supporting cast includes Douglas Henshall, Tom Brooke, Michelle Duncan and Sorcha Groundsell.

The film has a gentle intensity – part coming-of-age story and part returning-home drama – and is given real emotional resonance thanks to Ruth Negga’s striking central performance combined with Scott Graham’s sure hand and tangible sense of location. Iona is a beguiling and elegant film.