Fortissimo Films has acquired the international rights to Sunset Song, from celebrated British filmmaker Terence Davies. Both Peter Mullan and rising film and stage actress, Agyness Deyn have signed on to star in this highly anticipated production based on the 1932 classic novel of the same name by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. The film represents Fortissimo’s return to British films.
Set in the early 20th century, against the backdrop of the poverty of North-East Scotland, and the looming war, Chris Guthrie (Agyness Deyn), the eldest daughter of poor farmers barely making it, struggles for love amid hardship and family misfortune. After her mother, broken by a life of poverty and repeated child-birth poisons herself and her new baby twins, the ever resilient young Chris must manage the farm. Subsequently she is forced to deal with father who has a stroke yet is eager to have an incestuous relationship with his daughter, compelling her to use all her wits to hold the family together and not lose the farm. Finally she finds love, only soon to see her new husband depart for the Great War. While all this goes on, she remains wedded to the farm, connected to a land about to be changed forever by the onset of technology and war.
Actress Agyness Deyn said, “When I read the script I fell completely in love with the character and the story, I’m so honoured and excited to be working with Terence, he’s such an incredible director. I can’t wait to get started and just hope that I can do Chris Guthrie justice!”
Awesome news.
