‘Sunset Song’ Offers a Glimpse Into the Hard Life of a WWI Scottish Woman

Sandra Miska

The hard life of a young woman living in rural Scotland in the years leading up to and during the first World War is examined in “Sunset Song,” the latest drama from British filmmaker Terence Davies. Brit Agyness Deyn, a singer and former model as well as an actress, plays Chris Guthrie, a studious farm girl who longs for something more.

“Sunset Song” can be broken into three parts. Davies treads familiar territory in the first part as he tells the story of a large family with an abusive father and limited means, sparing no details, something he did in his 1988 feature debut “Distant Voices, Still Lives.” Chris is introduced as the top student in her class, which is somewhat of a miracle considering her turbulent home situation. Her tyrannical father (Peter Mullan) keeps her mother (Daniela Nardini) in line by keeping her pregnant, even raping her within earshot of Chris and her brother Will (Jack Greenlees). While Chris manages to escape her father’s wrath for the most part by staying busy with her books and chores, rebellious Will is treated to regular whippings. Mother gives birth to twins and in one of his few kind acts, Father grants her wish of moving the family into a larger home.

Soon, Chris begins her college studies to become a teacher. In a desperate state, her mother warns her about the dangers of men but at this point, one could hardly imagine Chris in her mother’s situation as she is bettering herself by getting an education. Sadly, everything changes in an instant when Mother takes her own life along with the twins’ with poison. Will takes off never to be seen again while the two younger boys go to live with an aunt. It now falls upon Chris, the only daughter, to be her aging father’s sole caretaker and nothing more is heard of her studies.

Chris gets a new lease on life in the second act after her father dies and leaves her everything. Much like the heroine played by Caitlin Mulligan in “Far From the Madding Crowd,” Chris suddenly finds herself the mistress of her own farm after years of being a dependent. With this reversal of fortunes comes suitor Ewan Tavendale (Kevin Guthrie), a local farmer who has for some time been attracted to her. He soon proposes, and Chris gladly accepts and hands him over her lease and her life without a second thought. Ewan is initially a loving and attentive husband worthy of her trust and it’s not long before they welcome a baby.

Things take a dramatic turn in the third act when WWI hits. While many able men enlist in the military, Ewan holds off, preferring to stay with his wife and little boy. Unfortunately, some see his love for his family as cowardice and the pressure gets to him and he enlists.

What seems like a few years goes by and Ewan comes home from leave; to say he’s a changed man would be quite an understatement. Post-war Ewan makes Chris’ dad look like a teddy bear when he barks orders at his wife and roughly grabs her in front of their son.

Although little of the war is shown, we are reminded of the horrors of WWI. However, having Ewan turn into such a cartoonish villain still feels like a stretch. After growing to care for Chris and Ewan it’s difficult for the viewer to watch them turn into an angrier version of her parents. All of this heart-wrenching drama leads to a bittersweet ending.

Viewers can look forward to breathtaking shots of Scotland landscapes. The heavy Scottish accents, which call for subtitles, give the film an even more authentic feel. Adding to the sometimes dreamy feel is Chris’ haunting, poetic voiceover.

Davies adapted “Sunset Song” from the classic novel of the same name by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. This film is a perfect choice for those who love a good historical drama with a strong female lead but find the usual Austen fare and the like too saccharine.

“Sunset Song” opens May 13 in select theaters.