Hedd Wyn **** (1992, Huw Garmon, Judith Humphreys, Catrin Fychan, Ceri Cunnington) – Classic Movie Review 5439

Co-writer/ director Paul Turner’s 1992 film is the epic true-life tale of World War One Welsh poet Hedd Wyn (his real name was Ellis Evans). This Welsh-language picture, which gained a surprise Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in 1994, is the first Welsh-language film to be nominated for an Oscar.

It traces, with tender loving care – if perhaps at rather too great a length at 123 minutes – the poet’s life between 1913, his enlistment for service in World War One four years later and his passionate ambition to win his country’s prime literary honour – the Chair at the National Eisteddfod – despite the onslaught of the Great War. He was killed at Passchendaele in 1917.

This beautifully crafted picture with thoughtful performances and an intelligent, detailed script by Turner and Alan Llwyd is a singularly uplifting experience. And it is a notable attempt to bring poetry to the cinema.

Rural Wales of the period is immaculately reconstructed, and the women in the poet’s life are nicely contrasted, with Judith Humphreys outstanding as the one he probably loves the most. Huw Garmon, who looks like the young Denholm Elliott, gives an appropriately sensitive account of the poet who dreaded having to kill a man.

And, if the film’s content is arguably perhaps rather too slight for its running time, there are major compensations in its style and in Ray Orton’s memorable colour cinematography, worthy of an Oscar nomination in itself.

Also in the cast are Catrin Fychan, Ceri Cunnington, Lilo Silyn, Grey Evans, Gwen Ellis and Sue Roderick.

A sprinkling of strong language and the general adult tone make it unsuitable for younger children.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5439

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