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.