Director Bill Forsyth: Nothing special about Scotland

DIrector Bill Forsyth denies flying the flag for his nation. Picture: Greg Macvean

THE Scottish director who wrote award winning film, Gregory's Girl believes 'there's nothing awfully special' about Scotland.

Writer and director, Bill Forsyth, 69, was responsible for the 1981 hit, Gregory’s Girl, and 1983 classic Local Hero.

The Glaswegian revealed that although many of his films are set in Scotland and have helped to forge the character of the nation, he “wasn’t flying the flag for Scotland”.

In an interview with the Big Issue, he said: “I wasn’t trying to say something culturally about Scotland - I don’t know what Scotland means to the guy next to me on the bus.

“It’s too dumb an idea to want to nail. A culture comes from making stuff, and the accumulation of that stuff finally reflects a culture. Scotland’s always been one of these little countries that had an identity problem. It’s either had an inferiority complex, or the opposite.

“It’s just a little schizophrenic nation like most little nations seeking an identity.

“There’s nothing awfully special about it. There’s history, but every place on earth has its history.”

Forsyth also revealed it’s unlikely he will be directing any more films.

Gregory’s Girl was set in a school in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. It was ranked number 30 in the British Film Institute’s list of the top 100 British films.