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STV NewsBrian Cox and Alan Cumming star as brothers Sandy and Donal Nairn in Glenrothan STV News<\/p>\nBrian Cox has described his directorial debut, Glenrothan, as a \u201clove letter\u201d to Scotland.<\/p>\n
The 79\u2011year\u2011old actor both stars in and directs the new film, which also features Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson, and is released in UK cinemas on Friday.<\/p>\n
The drama follows two estranged brothers who reunite after decades apart at their family\u2011run whisky distillery in the Highlands.<\/p>\n
Cox plays Sandy, a distillery owner in failing health, while Cumming stars as his younger brother Donal, who returns from the United States after more than 30 years away.<\/p>\n
The film marks Cox\u2019s first time directing a feature, something he says was never part of his plan.<\/p>\n
However, he insists taking the director\u2019s chair was not his idea, and says longtime collaborator and writer David Ashton pushed him to take on the role.<\/p>\n
He told What\u2019s On Scotland: \u201cThe producer came to me and said, \u2018We\u2019re doing this film that you\u2019re going to direct,\u2019 and I said, \u2018Hold on, what?\u2019 They said, \u2018You\u2019re going to direct this film.\u2019 And I said, \u2018Do I not have any say in the matter?\u2019 He said, \u2018Not really, no.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked with David Ashton on scripts for 20 years on the radio doing McLevy. I never, ever expected to direct a movie at my age. I genuinely thought it would never happen \u2013 it wasn\u2019t in my plan at all. But it was an incredible experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
STV NewsBrian Cox and Alan Cumming star as brothers Sandy and Donal Nairn in Glenrothan STV News<\/p>\n
Cox said he adopted a deliberately relaxed and \u201cegalitarian\u201d approach on set to allow performances to develop naturally.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cEverybody is equal. We work together as a body. The great thing about this script is that it\u2019s so wonderfully inclusive of everybody.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou let people do their work. Don\u2019t tell them, \u2018I want you to do this,\u2019 because I don\u2019t know \u2013 I\u2019m as clueless as they are. You have to admit that, and then it becomes much more organic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Known internationally for roles ranging from Cabaret on stage to The Good Wife and X\u2011Men on screen, Aberfeldy-born Alan Cumming plays Donal, returning to the Highlands after decades away.<\/p>\n
Cox said his co-star is \u201cincredible\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an Alan Cumming we don\u2019t see too often,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s great to work with. You don\u2019t really have to direct Alan. You just have to put him in the right frame, and he hits it straight away. I think he enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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STV NewsShirley Henderson plays distillery worker Jess STV News<\/p>\n
He also praised Shirley Henderson, who plays Jess, a key figure in the running of the distillery. Her credits include Trainspotting, Bridget Jones\u2019s Diary and the Harry Potter films.<\/p>\n
Describing the 60\u2011year\u2011old as \u201cone of the great actresses\u201d, he said: \u201cWhen you\u2019ve got the great Shirley Henderson, you can\u2019t go wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s very passionate about the fact that she doesn\u2019t travel. She\u2019s a Dunfermline girl \u2013 and she\u2019ll always be a Dunfermline girl. That\u2019s what I love about her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The actor said the story\u2019s Scottish setting and focus on human connection were what drew him to the project.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIt\u2019s a love letter. If I was ever going to do a film about Scotland, this would be the film I wanted to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about relationships, about how we are as human beings. It has elements of sentiment to it, and I\u2019m all for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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