Islandness is an intimate portrait of island life in the Scottish Hebrides set during this pivotal period of social and ecological unrest known as the Anthropocene. The story engages with a diverse group of islanders as their lifeways are influenced by climate breakdown and cultural erosion, delving in to some of the most pressing questions of our times.
Islands are ‘canaries in the coalmine’ in anticipating the impacts of climate breakdown. Despite being some of the first places to experience these effects, islands and their communities are often resilient in the face of unprecedented change. On islands, interdependence is seen as a strength, not a weakness.
While the story is based in some of the most beautiful islands in the world, it also challenges the romanticism that can haunt these often misrepresented places, offering viewers nuanced perspectives that move beyond cliches.
This story reveals what ‘islandness' can teach us about resilience, togetherness, and our connection to the natural world in times of upheaval, and what this shows us about meaning in a meaning-starved culture. The film explores identity, community, and spirituality, as well as practical aspects of island life, journeying through an elemental landscape steeped in history, hardship, and wisdom.
