It was the Mearns landscape that inspired a harrowing tale of working class farm life before, during and after World War I.
Now the long-awaited film adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s Sunset Song will be shown in his own home town of Arbuthnott.
The movie, directed by British filmmaker Terence Davies, took 18 years to make it to the big screen and a pivotal scene was even filmed within the village’s kirk.
The Lewis Grassic Gibbon Centre in the Mearns village is now welcoming hundreds of locals through its doors for a showing of the film on Monday, November 30 – a week ahead of the film’s UK release.
The film is an adaptation of Gibbon’s novel of the same name and was mostly shot in Aberdeenshire in 2014 with locations including Fettercairn village and the Glenmuick, Glen Tanar, Invercauld and Ballogie estates.
Manager and co-founder of the Lewis Grassic Gibbon Centre, Isabella Williamson, said: “It is good that they are bringing a screening to the centre. We have been promoting Lewis Grassic Gibbon for the last 23 years so it is nice.
“They came and filmed in Arbuthnott Church and they used the building here for their base when filming. The building was transformed into their dressing rooms.”
A preview screening of Sunset Song was also held at the Belmont Filmhouse last Friday with director Mr Davies and stars Agyness Deyn, Kevin Guthrie and Aberdeen-born Ian Pirie all in attendance.
Mrs Williamson added: “We have been excited about the film and have been waiting for it for a long time. There was a few of us at the screening on Friday too. It is very good. The imagery of the film is excellent.
“It has been a long time coming, and this has been talked about certainly since the centenary of his birthday in 2001.”
Gibbon was born James Leslie Mitchell into a farming family in Auchterless in 1901 but spent most of his life living in Arbuthnott and even attended Mackie Academy before being expelled after a year.
A total of 160 tickets are available for the screening of Sunset Song at the centre.
Doors for the screening will open at 7pm, and the film will start at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10.