23 Awesome Welsh Movies

Solomon & Gaenor (1999)

The Movie: BAFTA- and Oscar-nominated drama about an orthodox Jew living in 1911 Wales who must hide his ethnicity in order to sell fabric door-to-door in South Wales Valleys.

The Awesome: Every scene in Solomon & Gaenor was filmed twice – once in English, and once in Welsh. There’s even some Yiddish chucked in for good measure.

Welsh Reference: Ion Gruffud’s in it – surely one of the most successful of Welsh exports.

Hang Up Your Brightest Colours (1973)

The Movie: Dramatic documentary revolving around the life and death of Irish Republican leader Michael Collins.

The Awesome: Welsh actor and filmmaker Kenneth Griffith fully inhabits his role as Collins in a documentary that is more of a pace-y monologue that sees him conversing with Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George.

Welsh Reference: Um, it was first aired on BBC1 Wales in 1993.

Very Annie Marie (2001)

The Movie: Sugary coming-of-ager set in South Wales about a 30-year-old woman who lives with an abusive father, who himself is recovering from a stroke.

The Awesome: The film’s depressing-sounding premise is really a springboard for a little musical action as our central young woman attempts to re-find her (singing) voice.

Welsh Reference: Young girl singing? How very Charlotte Church.