Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2021 Returns Online “WITH JOURNEYS HOME”

Following the global phenomenon of the 2021 film, Fare Well, and the cancellation of the live events, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will release a new film tomorrow at 5pm providing an ‘inspirational offer’ for the new year celebrations.

Available to stream for free here, the film will pay tribute to the, ‘hope, love and optimism that people feel at Hogmanay and the turn of the year with a positive look forward to Scotland’s and Edinburgh’s future’.

This new artistic collaboration is delivered by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay producer, Underbelly, on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. Entitled, ‘Journeys Home’, the project has been made possible with support from HM Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

The film is based on a short story written by Kathleen Jamie, the current Scots Makar, and specially commissioned by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, and it draws inspiration from the resilience and sense of community that Edinburgh residents and Scotland as a nation have shown throughout the pandemic.

The film also features a specially composed soundtrack by Rura, one of Scotland’s most highly acclaimed folk bands featuring Jack Smedley, Steven Blake, Adam Brown and David Foley. With their distinct blend of fiddle, Highland pipes, flute, bodhrán and guitar, Rura capture the true essence of Hogmanay whilst also starring in the film themselves.

The film follows Kathleen Jamie’s four characters; Cait, Donald, Nana Jean and Calum, who narrate their personal Hogmanay stories, contemplating Hogmanay’s past and loved ones lost, as well as their hope and optimism for future Hogmanays to come.

The new film has been created following the success of the 2020 production of Fare Well, which became a global phenomenon, seen by over 1 billion worldwide.

Scots Makar and ‘Journeys Home’ Writer Kathleen Jamie said: ‘As a writer, I’m not a great believer in “inspiration”. You just have to look and listen.  We all know New Year is a complex time, more than just a big party – though there is joy and excitement too! But even in my own circle we have people who’ll be spending Hogmanay working in hospitals, or grieving loved ones lost in 2021, or who have had to cancel family visits yet again. We all know people who can’t bear to be alone, and others who take solace in the natural world, or in art and music. In “Journeys Home” I hope you will find someone or something you recognise, as we take leave of 2021, and look forward to better days ahead.’

Rura, ‘Journeys Home’ soundtrack composer said: ‘We were thrilled to be involved in the making of “Journeys Home” and to join forces with such a fantastic team of collaborators! Obviously Hogmanay is the biggest night of the year in Scotland, so to play a small part in Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations, especially in the context of the past 2 years, is a true honour. We always strive to write music that resonates with people, and this film provided the perfect excuse to sit down and build an arrangement that conveys hope, love and optimism. The stunning camera work and spoken word really did bring tears to our eyes when we first watched it.’

‘Journeys Home’ Director, Ross Addy said: ‘We wanted to produce a film that faithfully represents the characters in Kathleen's texts. Each is on their own unique journey, on their way to reconnecting with the people that matter most to them.

‘Shooting on location in and around Edinburgh — as well as on Schiehallion — we always endeavoured to articulate the characters' inner voices, while tracking their journeys through the cityscape and across one of Scotland’s iconic mountain landscapes.

‘Hogmanay and New Year mean different things to different people. But the over-arching theme of the film is hope — the hope to reconnect and once again enjoy the relationships that make us human.’