THE INCOMER

At the same time, they fiercely defend their stronghold and carefully preserved status quo, keeping unwanted outsiders at bay. Their world is turned upside down when Daniel (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives on the island. A hapless civil servant, he has been sent to evict the pair and relocate them to the mainland. With two such eccentric characters on home turf, that is rather easier said than done.

At first, the intruder lands himself in trouble, but after a few days – and a rather unusual initiation ritual – curiosity gets the better of them, and relations begin to thaw. Daniel, after all, brings with him a wealth of stories from the mainland: from the wonders of the internet to the history of the avocado, not to mention an unsuccessful attempt to explain veganism. He also disrupts their routine and gradually brings warmth back into their relationships and everyday life.

THE INCOMER is a charming and very funny take on Scottish island folklore. Mixing modes of storytelling – from no-holds-barred humour and delightful exchanges between the characters to animation, playful writing and an almost fairy-tale quality – it is sheer fun to watch. The majestic Scottish cliffs, the Northern Lights, treasures washed ashore by the waves and the magical powers of wayward mythical figures are as much a part of this story about defending one’s values as the human characters themselves.

And if normality is to be found anywhere, why not in terrifying seabird-like costumes that also happen to be remarkably effective at scaring off unwanted visitors who could never hope to understand the logic of this place?

Text: Dorota Reksińska