Tickets for the Zoo (1991)
Dir. Brian Crumlish
Down and out, struggling on the wild side to keep body and soul together in a pre-Trainspotting Edinburgh. Siblings Carol and George try to think positive, but she loses her flat when she refuses to do a little bondage on the side. Powerful and moving with gritty performances from Alice Bree, Tom Smith and Micky MacPherson.

Trainspotting (1995)
Dir. Danny Boyle
Irvine Welsh’s interior monologue is transformed into an exhilarating exposé of aimless lives fuelled, and made bearable, by drugs. Launched a raft of the Mac pack: Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner et al. Web site

Venus Peter (1989)
Dir. Ian Sellar
A marvelous evocation of a childhood imagination taking flights in a small fishing community. Filmed in Orkney, but based on Christopher Rush’s semi-autobiographical "Twelve Months and a Day", set in St Monans, it marked the first collaboration of producer Christopher Young and director Ian Sellar. Peter (Gordon R Strachan) leads a magical existence, brought up by his grandfather (Ray McAnally) and taught about life and beauty by his teacher (Sinead Cusack), all against a background of an inbred and insular community. Intriguing and touching.

Whisky Galore (1949)
Dir: Alexander Mackendrick
Fine vintage Ealing comedy, directed by Alexander Mackendrick, in which canny Hebridean islanders hijack a wrecked wartime cargo of whisky. Much imitated, but it stands repeated viewings.

The Wicker Man (1973)
Dir. Robin Hardy
Christopher Lee claims he gives his best performance in a film whose cult status soars with every showing. Lee heads a pagan cult on a Scottish island community, leading to a heady examination of Christianity and devil worship. Chilling, bizarre... and erotic.

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