Island (2011 film)

Island is a 2011 British film and an independent adaptation of the 1999 novel Island by Jane Rogers. The film was directed by Brek Taylor and Elizabeth Mitchell who also wrote the screenplay. It stars Natalie Press, Colin Morgan, and Janet McTeer. It features original music from Michael Price,^[1] and cinematography from Rain (Kathy) Li.^[2]

Island
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Brek Taylor Elizabeth Mitchell
Screenplay by	Elizabeth Mitchell
Story by	Jane Rogers
Based on	Island by Jane Rogers
Produced by	Amy Gardner Clare Tinsley Charlotte Wontner
Starring	Natalie Press Colin Morgan Janet McTeer
Cinematography	Rain (Kathy) Li
Edited by	Sam Sneade
Music by	Michael Price
Production company	FilmRise
Distributed by	Soda Pictures
Release date	22 April 2011 (2011-04-22)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Nikki Black, abandoned at birth, is an unhinged twenty-nine-year-old woman on a vengeful quest to find and kill her birth mother. Shortly after arriving on the remote island of Tigh Na Benne, she discovers a room for rent ad from a Phyllis Lovage, her mother. Once there to rent the room, she quickly learns that she has a brother, Calum MacLeod, a loner, awkward and violent. Her mother, sick with cancer and protective of her son, keeps him on a tight leash and, in short order, attempts to keep the two apart. Nikki and Calum soon develop an unhealthy relationship that ends in tragedy.

Cast

• Natalie Press as Nikki Black
• Colin Morgan as Calum MacLeod
• Janet McTeer as Phyllis Lovage
• Tanya Franks as Ruby
• Kate Stevens as Emma Lacey
• Denise Oritta as Sally
• Alex Donald as Gerry the Barman

Reception

Island received mixed reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 6 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10.^[3]. Their top rated critic for the film, Peter Bradshaw of the daily The Guardian called it a "flimsy film",^[4] while Derek Malcolm of the tabloid London Evening Standard was critical of directors Brek Taylor and Elizabeth Mitchell.^[5] Critic Andrew Lowry of the magazine Total Film, said that Rain (Kathy) Li's cinematography "imbues proceedings with a chilly beauty".^[6] The site Best for Film critically reviewed the film as "effortlessly and satisfyingly ambiguous".^[7] Unsung Films reviewed the film as "different and unusual", "not keeping entirely faithful to the book", and "unique".^[8] The UK independent film review magazine Dog and Wolf gave the film 3 out of 5 stars.^[9]

Production

Island was filmed on the Isle of Mull, Argyll, and the Isle of Bute, in Scotland, United Kingdom.^[10]

Release

Island had its theatrical debut on 22 April 2011 in the UK and was later made available for viewing on DVD and the video streaming service Amazon Prime.