Rent On the Black Hill (1988)

Remarkable Adaptation - On the Black Hill review by CV

I read this book some time ago in our Book Club which was not my choice. I found the book more interesting than enjoyable. It's about an odd Welsh family set at the turn of last century. A Welsh farmer marries a well-to-do woman who is educated and well-travelled and they produce two twin sons who, though relationally close to each other, do not really socialize with others outside their family very successfully. Later there is a daughter who leaves the family. The story is essentially about the growing-up of these two sons who have a telepathic relationship with each other throughout their long lives. It seemed an odd theme for a novel and stranger still for a film. But I actually found the film quite enlightening and the producer has made a remarkable adaptation of the book, especially when it is set in location in the Welsh borders featuring all the seasons and aspects of Welsh social and farming history. Also, extras show two atmospheric films in black and white about sheep farming in the earlier 20th Century.