BFI release Blue Black Permanent (1992) on BluRay and DVD

Heartbeat

The first Scottish feature film directed by a woman, now newly remastered in 2K and available on DVD and Blu-ray for the very first time.

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This haunting and magical film moves between Edinburgh and Orkney as it tells of a woman’s attempts to come to terms with her mother’s death through her childhood memories. Filled with flashbacks and dream sequences, it’s also a film about islanders’ relationship with the ever-present sea.

Margaret Tait’s only feature-length film, from her own screenplay, was produced by the BFI in 1992 and was the first Scottish feature film directed by a woman. Now newly remastered in 2K and available on DVD and Blu-ray for the very first time.

Also included:

  • Film poems – the work of filmmaker Margaret Tait (2018, 31 mins): BFI curator Peter Todd welcomes academic Lucy Reynolds and writers So Mayer and Anna Coatman to talk about the work, rhythm and poetry of film poet Margaret Tait.
  • Margaret Tait Film Maker (1983, 35 mins): Arts Council England film featuring the only filmed interview with Margaret Tait.
  • A Portrait of Ga (1952, 5 mins): Margaret Tait’s hypnotic and deeply personal short documentary about her mother. Made in Orkney shortly after Tait returned home from Rome in 1952.
  • The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo (1955, 7 mins): Tait’s entrancing interpretation of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem.
  • Rose Street (1956, 20 mins): Tait’s 1956 film about the Edinburgh street that runs parallel to Prince’s Street.
  • **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film and full film credits.