Review of Sunshine on Leith (2013) by Dave K — 05 Oct 2013

My wife and I went to see Sunshine on Leith last night. We both loved it!

It's a charming, gentle film about friendship and love, with great songs and wonderful views of a fantastic city.

Edinburgh looks fantastic. It's worth going just for the closing panoramic scene alone, but I've never felt so proud of my city throughout. There were a couple of scenes filmed in Glasgow, but they didn't spoil the overall impression! See what I did there?

I thought it would be painfully obvious that the story was created purely as a vehicle for the songs, but it was nowhere near as contrived as I feared. I thought the story worked well and could have stood on its own feet.

I was also worried that I'd cringe when actors sang the songs which I love and know so well.

In fact, the film gave the songs new depth and meaning. The fact that it was "ordinary people" singing them to reflect their emotions added significance and poignancy to the words. Sunshine on Leith had me in tatters!

Apart from several teary eyed bits, I had a smile on my face throughout, I laughed out loud several times, and I clapped at the end.

I'll go to see it again,.