Overview
A remote Scottish village becomes the unlikely battleground for corporate greed and local charm.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- gentle
- whimsical
- lazy sunday
- comfort viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Bill Forsyth's film as an original, gently humorous, beautifully observed comedy-drama with understated environmental and anti-capitalist substance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The proposed oil refinery and property negotiations place corporate wealth against Ferness's communal way of life.
The Scottish coast and Northern Lights are treated as sources of calm, understated awe.
Mac arrives from a Houston corporate office and must negotiate with eccentric villagers on their own terms.
Marina's surreal presence, the Northern Lights, and the village's improbable encounters create a gently enchanted atmosphere.
Films like Local Hero, and why
Gregory's Girl
shared gentle whimsy, small-town eccentricity, and humanistic comedy
The Wicker Man
shared rural community setting, understated humor, and tension between modernity and local tradition
Chocolat
shared warm magical realism, outsider protagonists, and quietly transformative village life
Waking Ned Devine
shared comedic culture clash, eccentric communities, and critique of commercial modernity
Movie Details
- Director
- Bill Forsyth
- Release Date
- 1983-02-17
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (420)
Cast
- Burt Lancaster
- Peter Riegert
- Denis Lawson
- Fulton Mackay
- Peter Capaldi
- Jennifer Black
- Jenny Seagrove
- Norman Chancer
- Rikki Fulton
- Alex Norton
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Local Hero about?
- An American oil executive discovers that a remote Scottish village may be worth more as a home than as a refinery site.
- What is Local Hero like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Local Hero as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Local Hero violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Local Hero.
- What did critics think of Local Hero?
- Critics broadly regard Bill Forsyth's film as an original, gently humorous, beautifully observed comedy-drama with understated environmental and anti-capitalist substance.
- Which films are like Local Hero?
- Films with a similar feel include Gregory's Girl, The Wicker Man, Chocolat, and Waking Ned Devine.
- How long is Local Hero?
- Local Hero runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Local Hero?
- In United States, Local Hero streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
