It is one of the best-loved Scottish films of the 1980s – and StudioCanal are reissuing RESTLESS NATIVES in a brand-new restored version for a 2021 Blu-Ray release.
Capitalising on the success of films like GREGORY’S GIRL and LOCAL HERO amongst others, RESTLESS NATIVES is the tale of two underemployed youths in Edinburgh, Ronnie (Joe Mullaney) and Will (Vincent Friell). One works and is then fired as a street sweeper, whilst the other works in a joke shop.
They ride a motorcycle in the surrounding hills and are keen to exploit the seeming naivety of the tourists that populate the capital, which escalates when they don a clown and Wolfman mask and hold up the tour buses that drive up and down dale throughout the immense green and pleasant land.
However, their desire for profit turns them into local celebrities who pay tribute to Robin Hood and Rob Roy in their exploits, as well as the subject of much keen interest from the local police – and a vacationing CIA agent, Fritz Bender (Ned Beatty, DELIVERANCE, SUPERMAN I and II), who have to track down and apprehend them as they are now the subject of a letter from the Scottish Secretary of State….
RESTLESS NATIVES is still an addictive ride, even if the look and tone of the film is very much rooted four decades before, with a un-PC representation of the Japanese that shouldn’t dampen the spirit of a film that is very much as feel-good as it was back on its’ original release. Fans of the period will find additional appeal with an opening scene cameo from real-life husband and wife Bryan Forbes and Nanette Newman and the late Mel Smith from NOT THE NINE O’CLOCK NEWS as a gangster with an interest in Ronnie and Will’s endeavours.
Great fun all round, with a soundtrack from the late Stuart Adamson and his band Big Country.
RESTLESS NATIVES is available to buy on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from 1st March 2021 and available to pre-order HERE.
