Director/Writer David Mackenzie | Producer Gillian Berrie

Tristan da Cunha

Last year David Mackenzie went to Tristan da Cunha (reckoned to be the most remote inhabited island on earth) to start a research process for a possible feature film to be set there.  The island – approximately half way between Cape Town and Buenos Aries – is home to around 280 people.

It is a community that was set up around 200 years ago with a ethos of equality at its heart and, despite the intrusions of the 21st century, much of this still exists today.   Its main income is from lobster fishing and the sale of its rare and sought after stamps.





Lobster fishing off Tristan





The actual narrative thread of the film is still work in progress but the project will be loosely based on characters and events described in the book by the island’s policeman Conrad Glass – Rockhopper Copper, published by Polperro Heritage Press.





Spike Glass at the hut by his potato patch





As part of the ongoing process, David is putting together some material shot on his visit to give a flavour of his impressions of Tristan and to raise awareness of the future larger film project.  The hope is to return to Tristan soon to write the script and then to follow it up with a shoot, collaborating with the community as much as possible.





Socialising at the village hall