The formidable presence of Peter Mullan anchors Sean Robert Dunn's debut feature film, The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford, a quirky dramedy set in a fictional Scottish town. Mullan delivers a performance that is both tender and weighty, bringing emotional depth to a narrative that might otherwise feel uncertain in its tone.
A Powder Keg of Emotion
Mullan portrays Kenneth, a cantankerous local historian and widower living in the fictional Scottish town of Aberloch. Kenneth is consumed by an obsession with his obscure ancestor, Sir Douglas Weatherford, an unscrupulous 18th-century landowner and amateur surgeon known for vivisectional experiments on the lower classes. Sir Douglas's writings on rational self-interest have led Kenneth to hail him as a lost hero of the Scottish Enlightenment, blending elements of David Hume, Adam Smith, Dr Livingstone, and Walter Scott.
From History to Humiliation
Kenneth's dedication borders on the embarrassing as he dresses in wig and knee breeches to deliver excruciating lectures about Sir Douglas to uncomprehending tourists. However, his world is upended when a low-rent, Game of Thrones-style television show begins filming in the area. The tourist centre where Kenneth works eagerly discards all Sir Douglas Weatherford exhibits, repurposing itself as a fan hub and forcing Kenneth to dress as one of the show's silly characters.
This humiliation transforms Kenneth into a powder keg of emotion, ready to explode. Compounding his distress, the ghost of Sir Douglas lurks nearby, full of contempt for what he sees as his ridiculous and pathetic descendant. Mullan masterfully captures Kenneth's anger, weariness, and disillusionment, portraying a man whose feelings were hurt long ago but who would never dream of making a fuss about it.
A Shift in Tone
While Sir Douglas's dyspeptic speech at the film's outset introduces a note of scabrous satire, this tone is gradually overtaken by bittersweet sadness as Kenneth takes centre stage. Some viewers might wish for more of Sir Douglas himself, but it is Mullan's tender and sympathetic performance that gives the film its weight and flavour, preventing it from becoming too watery or unsure of its intended sting.
Ultimately, The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford showcases Mullan's ability to bring complexity and heart to a character caught between historical obsession and modern absurdity, making this Scottish dramedy a memorable watch.
