The organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will be releasing a free, "inspirational" video on 31 December from 5pm, as part of the new year celebrations, days after being forced to cancel the four-day long Hogmanay celebrations due to the pandemic.
Journeys Home follows in a similar vein to last year's film, Fare Well, which was streamed online after last year's live Edinburgh's Hogmanay events could not go ahead.
The film follows Kathleen Jamie’s four characters; Cait, Donald, Nana Jean and Calum, who narrate their personal Hogmanay stories, contemplating Hogmanay’s past and loved ones lost, as well as their hope and optimism for future Hogmanay celebrations to come.
In a release, Edinburgh's Hogmanay organisers said that it "draws inspiration from resilience and unwavering sense of community that Edinburgh residents and Scotland as a nation have shown throughout the pandemic".
Journeys Home is based on a short story written exclusively for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay by Kathleen Jamie, the current Scots Makar. The film was co-conceived by Underbelly and Arms & Legs, produced by Underbelly and directed by Ross Addy.
The film features a specially composed soundtrack by acclaimed Scots folk bands Rura, featuring Jack Smedley, Steven Blake, Adam Brown and David Foley on fiddle, Highland pipes, flute, bodhrán and guitar.
Underbelly Co-Directors, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam said: Journeys Home felt like the perfect theme for this year’s film, as people yearn to gather for Hogmanay. Collaborating with the creative brilliance of Kathleen Jamie, Rura, and Arms and Legs has been a true honour - together they have made a film which will sing out to the world the creativity of Scottish artists and the hope and optimism that Scotland have for the new year.”
Supported with funding from is funded from HM Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Journeys Home is part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay’s commitment to provide a free, digital element of the new year celebrations that everyone can enjoy from the comfort of their own home.
Scots Makar and Journeys Home writer Kathleen Jamie said: “As a writer, I’m not a great believer in 'inspiration'. You just have to look and listen. We all know New Year is a complex time, more than just a big party – though there is joy and excitement too! But even in my own circle we have people who’ll be spending Hogmanay working in hospitals, or grieving loved ones lost in 2021, or who have had to cancel family visits yet again. We all know people who can’t bear to be alone, and others who take solace in the natural world, or in art and music. In Journeys Home hope you will find someone or something you recognise, as we take leave of 2021, and look forward to better days ahead.”
Journeys Home will be streamed through the Edinburgh's Hogmanay website from 5pm on 31st December.