The Rocket
Post
Stephen Whittaker
Scotland | 2003 | 118mins | 35mm | Colour
Set in the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland
and featuring breathtaking cinematography, this is based
on the true story of a dashing German rocket scientist
named Gerhard Zucher, who was employed by the British
Government to oversee the manufacture of a link from
the Hebrides to the mainland via a rocket postal service
during the late 1930s. However, with World War I still
fresh in people’s minds, Zucher and his fellow
German companion receive a frosty reception from the
locals. But when the local school teacher Catherine
takes pity on the foreigners, the community soon follows
suit as the ‘Rocket Mail’ becomes increasingly
successful.
Zucher begins to fall for Catherine who is already
dating the local doctor while political tensions between
Germany and Britain conspire against Zucher, who is
ordered to return home by his government. Not wanting
his research to be exploited for military purposes,
Zucher has to make a decision which may have devastating
consequences.
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