I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)

I Know Where I’m Going!

Call No: PN1995.9.M27 I3 2001

One of the reasons that I wanted to watch this movie was for the premise. When I see films that are part of the Criterion Collection, they’re usually of a certain calibre of quality. Rarely are they straightforward or simple. They often strike me as the equivalent of literature – not excessively popular, usually exceptional, but of a particularly acquired taste. Imagine my surprise when I found I Know Where I’m Going as part of the collection – a film which, in its simplest description, reads like a romantic dramedy (comedy/drama). Now that I’ve watched the film, I can understand why the Criterion Collection has adopted it under its name and released it. It can be considered a romantic dramedy, but at its heart it is a film meant for the people of Scotland.

Joan Webster has never had a problem chasing down what she wants in life. So when she decides that she wants to marry a rich Scottish lord on his private island in the Scottish Hebrides, nobody doubts her determination. Unfortunately the weather has other plans, and Joan is forced to wait out the storm with Torquil, a naval officer who has taken leave to come home for a week. Suddenly Joan’s plans aren’t as clear as she thought, and the person she’ll have to convince the most that she still knows where she’s going is herself.

For many people, this is simply an old-fashioned romance. Even without me telling you what the movie is about, you can figure out what’s going to happen based on the description I gave above. It’s your typical romance film, which means that it’s predictable. For some people, this may be enough. It’s a cute film – the shared scenes between the two main characters are excellent, and the small plot twists that occur keep the story interesting and fun. Wendy Hiller (who plays Joan) is perfect for the role of the headstrong Joan, both different and the same from her portrayal as Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion. Roger Livesey who plays Torquil is a treat to watch, and plays the role with a special blend of class, chivalry and charisma. It wouldn’t surprise me if Hollywood decided to remake this film in its entirety, since many of the aspects of the film are often used in romantic films already. It’s a great romance. For some people, that’s enough of a reason to watch the film.

Both Joan and Torquil are on their way to Kiloran, but not until the weather improves.

What I didn’t realize at first, and noticed upon skimming through parts of the DVD again, is just how big of an impact the Scottish culture has on the film itself. While the film takes place in Scotland, it goes above and beyond to incorporate the Scottish culture into every facet of its being. It has dancing and songs, anniversary celebrations and pipers. It has castles, famous legends and dangerous curses. Everything that makes Scotland what it is is found in this film. This film doesn’t fulfill the quota of cultural references – the footage could have practically served as an advertisement for the film. From a regular standpoint, this is a romance film that celebrates the Scottish culture. But add into this the fact that this is a wartime film, and suddenly the reasoning changes slightly. This is a film that is trying to keep the spirit of Scotland alive, during a time towards the end of the war when everyone fighting is giving up hope. The mentions of war in the film are brief and subtle, as though it doesn’t want to sully what it’s trying to do – act as a visual love letter to the homesick, the tired and the weary and remind them why they continue to do what they do, and what they can hope to return to. In this way, the film moves beyond a romance film and becomes a representation of Scottish hope and tradition, just the way it should be remembered.