Magical realism has been a dominant force in literature, but has rarely managed to break through significantly in the cinematic sphere, since it doesn’t appear to be one that necessarily lends itself to the visual form, despite the fact that numerous artists have demonstrated the joyful results that can come from combining the hope of romanticism, and the heartfelt honesty of those who sought to deconstruct many of life’s biggest mysteries, in the hopes of evoking a feeling of enchantment in the recipient. Bill Forsyth is one of the foremost exemplifications of this, and while he may not be particularly well-known as an auteur, his work speaks generously of his talents in telling stories that don’t only captivate the viewer with their earnest sincerity, but also give us glimpses into our world in ways that are not revolutionary, but still somehow so deeply moving and unexpected. Local Hero is his finest achievement, and his most well-regarded work, and for good reason – taking a cue from many of cinema’s more effervescent filmmakers (particularly those who dedicated time to capturing the spirit of humanity in small but significant ways), and submerging itself in a kind of artistic optimism that is woefully neglected when it comes to film, Local Hero emerges as a triumphant bit of filmmaking, the embodiment of absolutely everything that makes the slice-of-life drama so incredibly compelling, and a work that is so assured in both its intentions and ability to execute a multitude of ideas with grace and nuance. Its reputation has only increased with time, and whether looking at it is as being indicative of a particular era in filmmaking, or through recognizing its own timeless qualities that keep it so fresh and enduring, nearly four decades later, there’s very little room to deny that Forsyth crafted a beautifully tender, heartfelt comedy that speaks to much broader issues, and remains almost peerless in both its incredible heartfulness, and deft ability to find the meaningful humour in the most subdued of situations.

Local Hero exists in the canon of great films that forego the unfortunate tendency of assaulting the viewer with too much content, and instead chooses the path of less-resistance, opting to describe rather than persuade. This may not appear to be a particularly noteworthy aspect of a film, but when you have a story that hinges almost entirely on the emotional content of what we’re perceiving, rather than the story that occurs alongside it, there is a significant difference being made, with Forsyth implicitly understands. This is a remarkably straightforward film, but even the most seasoned viewers will struggle with pinpointing it to a particular genre – comedy, drama, romance and satire are all components of a film that makes it very clear how utterly disinterested it is in being categorized as anything specific. Forsyth is a keen observer of the human comedy, as reflected in the vast majority of his films, of which Local Hero will always be the crowning achievement – and his intentions were always incredibly pure, insofar as he never attempted to do anything other than deconstructing the world as he saw it. Neither the definitive version of the issues he brings up, nor a film that seems to want to be considered that at all, we’re instead given the opportunity to voyage into the very heart of not only a distinct culture, but the lives of a group of individuals, reflecting reality in a way that is deviant from the more sensationalist approach that dominates cinema. Just about as unfurnished as a film can get, Local Hero instead cares more about developing a relationship with the viewer, giving it a sense of outright authenticity, and the perpetual notion that we’re being invited to accompany these characters on their journey, rather than just observe them – and any film that can forge such a strong bond between the audience and its fictional characters is going to always be a worthwhile endeavour.

While it may not be a film that thrives on technicalities, Local Hero is more focused on rewarding viewers who are willing to surrender themselves to the distinct vision of its filmmaker. In this regard, it has a two-pronged approach to what is a very simple premise – at a cursory glance, this is a simple story of the clash of cultures when a street-smart American businessman is thrust into a small, seaside village and forced to acclimate to their way of thinking, with the locals conversely having to deal with the presence of an outsider. When we go deeper, we realize that there is far more to this film than the plot mechanics, and by the end of it, we’re not nearly as invested in the central storyline, having been more likely bewitched by the vivid storytelling and soulful nature of the film. Local Hero is driven by emotion more than anything else, which gives it a particularly enchanting radiance that should be a balm for even the most cynical of viewers, a departure from the more heavy-handed portrayals of life and its many challenges, and a request to put aside our preconceived notions of the world, and the individual quandaries that keep us up at night, and instead voyage into the heart of humanity, as represented in a delightfully idiosyncratic comedy with a very tender heart. Forsyth has the good sense to realize that what attracts viewers to a film, and what keeps us captivated for the entire duration, aren’t necessarily always the same – we grow alongside the film we’re seeing, and he adapts the film to reflect this, always provoking the underlying premise that has far more layers than a brief glance will indicate. There’s a lot of charm underpinning this film, and so much of it is propelled by a beguiling understanding of human behaviour, which ultimately transforms Local Hero from a mere cross-culture comedy, into one of the most stark and uncompromisingly honest works of existential fiction ever committed to the screen, which is certainly an unprecedented achievement for a film that purports to be nothing more but a delightful romp through the Scottish countryside, and gradually finds new ways to surprise the viewer and show us an entirely different side of life that seems so obvious in retrospect, but still takes us by utter surprise in the moment – and any filmmaker (or artist in general) who can make the banalities of life seem so mesmerizing deserves every iota of acclaim his work receives, which has never been a problem for a film like Local Hero.

Part of the brilliance embedded in Local Hero is that the story feels so thoroughly real, with every corner of the film coming across as incredibly authentic and direct. The characterization is absolutely exceptional – there’s a tendency for culture-clash comedies to employ the use of excessive characters that are meant to be over-the-top representations of different groups, with humour being derived from their differences, often insinuating one group is less civilized or sophisticated than the other (normally the outsider is seen as the embodiment of the modern world, sent to educate the uninformed yokels that he comes across). This is absolutely not the case with Local Hero, a film that genuinely cares about its characters and uses them as a means to convey the beautiful message underlying the story. Whether it is Peter Riegert’s wise-cracking Mac, who has a heart of gold but a stubbornness that is second-to-none, Peter Capaldi’s Danny Oldsen, a lovable oaf who gradually finds himself in the most unexpected location, or Denis Lawson’s prickly but well-meaning accountant-cum-hotelier, the film has a strong ensemble of actors willing to bring Forsyth’s impeccable script to the screen. Burt Lancaster is a scene-stealer as the wealthy executive who quite literally has his head in the clouds most of the time, and whose fascination with the cosmos may appear peculiar at first, but is responsible for much of the emotional content that this film hinges on. It’s a very strong cast portraying a wonderful jumble of characters that are so incredibly genuine in both creation and execution, it’s not unheard of to be taken aback by the realization that this is a work of fiction, considering how strongly these people are portrayed. Every one of the individuals that populate this film play into the very tender soul of the story, evoking the emotion from a story that had the potential to be overwrought, but traverses the delicate boundary between reality and fiction in truly unforgettable ways.

There are so many aspects of Local Hero that make it such a worthwhile film, and much of it comes from a director who was assured in his message, never settling for anything other than the most optimal imagery with which he could quietly pull apart the layers of a carefully-constructed comedy that has so much more meaning than we’d imagine based on a surface-level description. Throughout the film, we find ourselves being swept up in an adventure far more thrilling than any work of fantasy, traversing a world so much more stunning than those constructed in fiction, and taught lessons that have a level of almost ethereal profundity, all the while being absolutely enthralled by the heartfelt, buoyant comedy that gives so much context to the film and allows it to gradually leave an indelible impression. Forsyth takes the smallest fragments of existence and repurposes them as a stunning work of humanistic storytelling that never fails to inspire wonder – it fits that the climactic moment of Local Hero takes place during the natural display of the aurora borealis, one of the natural world’s most mystifyingly beautiful phenomena. The social commentary that dominates the opening sequences is almost entirely dismissed, replaced instead with a melancholic sense of meditation that allows the film to end on a note that could be perceived as either sombre or resoundingly triumphant, depending on how the viewer interprets the haunting final moments. There is a powerful message lurking below this delightful premise, one that impels us to look deeper than our own perception, prodding at the institutions we’ve grown complacent in, and showing us the value of venturing out of our comfort zone – and with a poignant story, a meaningful set of characters and a beautifully simple demonstration of a very recognizable, yet so elusive, version of our world, Forsyth truly created something extraordinary, a comedy that traverses all boundaries to deliver a rousing call to appreciate our world, one another and, most importantly, ourselves.