This comedy drama firmly established Bill Forsyth as a major British film-maker. It's a lyrical, almost mystical tale that follows the attempts of Texas oilman Burt Lancaster and his minion Peter Riegert to buy up an isolated Scottish village in order to build an oil refinery, without bargaining on the village's integral strength of community. Local Hero manages to avoid the relentless whimsy that over-egged Forsyth's previous outing, Gregory's Girl: the scenery is gorgeous, the performances are funny, ironic and moving (Lancaster, in particular, is superb), and Forsyth brings a sure directorial touch.

An American oil company sends a man to Scotland to buy up an entire village where they want to build a refinery. But things don't go as expected.