The Rocket Post

This film is about a German rocket scientist going to a remote Scottish island to help develop a rocket for improving the postal service.

As others have already commented, the scenery is breathtaking. Blue skies, white sand, green pastures and authentic cottages are just the few features of the film. However, I feel that the film heavily relies on the scenery to make it watchable. The pacing is incredibly slow, which is probably to mirror the way of life in the villages. The story is somewhat predictable, but still fresh in the sense of its rural setting. The ending is touching, both from Gerhard's plot and the villagers' story. I liked the soundtrack, which abundantly uses traditional folk music. It gives the film a touch of authenticity. It is a refreshing tale that I am glad to have watched.

Mainly set on a remote island off the coast of Harris, called Scarp, the "The Rocket Post" is a well made, acted and plotted film, slightly based on truth. It follows themes of: mail rockets, which were being designed and tested just before WWII; of romance; and of life on many of the Scottish Islands. The film may not mean much for people who are not familiar with Scottish landscapes or pre-war history and political ideas in Europe in the 1930's, but those who do know Scottish landscapes and something of the period of this film, hopefully, will find the film entertaining, intriguing and emotional.

I particularly warmed to the main characters, the Rocket Scientist Gerhard Zucher and Catriona Mackay, who will soon leave the island on which she has grown up to study at St Andrews. The relationship between the two is sweet, if a little predictable, but to just wait and watch them throughout the film makes it more exciting and beautiful. The scenery of the island and the depiction of life around croft farming is well done and give the viewer an idea of the hardiness and traditions that have almost gone from Scotland and its Isles, but which I'm sure many from those parts of Britain would like to keep.

I recommend this film to those who know something about Scotland and Nazi Germany before the War, and for those who wish to watch a moving, partly romantic story.

You'd have to be a hard person indeed not to be moved by this honest and lovely tale. Beautiful location, capably shot, in great colour with good camera-work, this is an easy one for the eyes. A high-calibre and wide cast give poise and earnestness to the characters here, many (if not all) being very endearing indeed. The moving soundtrack is perfectly also tuned. You'll have no problem imagining this idyllic isolated world just prior to WWII. A triumph.

Great setting beautifully scenery.

Corny characters Story not very engaging Overlong.

The main problem which makes the film unconvincing is how the german scientist gains such great devotion from the islanders and even the girl when hes such a long faced bore.

If you need to watch a highland or the islands film Whiskey Galore.... I Know Where I'm Going and The Edge of the World are a better bet.

I saw this at the 2004 Stony Brook Film Festival in NY and it was very warmly received. In this pre-WW2 film, a pair of German rocket scientists are working on the Scottish Isle of Scarp as war looms on the horizon. The characters encountered on the island are priceless in their creation and their portrayal. Shauna MacDonald is particularly memorable

After getting up to speed on the "Scootish" accents, the viewer feel right at home with these folk who watch with amusement as the Germans work to link their isle with the mainland via a rocket-based mail delivery. As implausible as it seems, this film was based on an actual story.

All in all, a memorable film that will stay with you for some time thanks to its casting, its story or its scenery.