Product Details

• Actors: Huw Garmon, Catrin Fychan, Ceri Cunnington, Llio Silyn, Grey Evans
• Format: Color, Letterboxed, NTSC
• Language: English, Welsh
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Fox Lorber
• VHS Release Date: October 13, 1997
• Run Time: 123 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304102704
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,610 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The powerful true story of a talented poet who dreams of winning his country's most coveted literary prize, only to have his hopes shattered with the onset of World War I.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark Welsh film, August 15, 2001

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HeddWyn - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hedd Wyn [VHS] (VHS Tape)

An outstanding film from S4C, HEDD WYN depicts the futility of war in general and specifically for the Welsh people. While England is fighting for King and country to save their way of life, the war is bringing about the destruction of the Welsh way of life. English troops and gunnery ranges planted squarely in one of the most Welsh areas of Wales disrupt the daily life. Still the men of Wales enlisted in droves despite the scorn heaped upon these Welsh speakers by their English superiors. As the war drags on, the death toll rises and casualties mount; those at home cannot escape the turmoil. Ellis Evans, a pacificist sheep herder from Trawsfynydd is finally forced into the army. From Flanders he completes his epic poem "Yr Awrw" (The Hero). From the spectacular landscapes filmed on location in and around Trawsfyndd, to the acting of this Welsh cast, the film HEDD WYN is absolutely wonderful. It may be somewhat difficult for those not familar with Welsh culture and of the importance of poetry and the Eisteddfod, but if you are willing to try, you will be rewarded. The Welsh language is wonderful. Cymru am byth!

I hope very much that S4C, or whomever decides these things, would decide to issue this important Welsh film on DVD. Perhaps with a documentary on Ellis Evans and a taste of the Eisteddfod. Until then, iechyd dda pob Cymry!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars from a cast member, February 9, 2000

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emma kelly (Trawsfynydd, north wales) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hedd Wyn [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I played 'Enid', Hedd Wyn's youngest sister. They wanted a local accent for the character so they held auditions at the local primary school, at which I was a pupil. Strangely enough, welsh was my second language! Filming this was a valuable experience for me.....although to a 10 year-old it was a bit slow and boring. It made me realise that although I wished to carry on with my acting career I would far rather do it on stage than on screen! In my opinion, the film has managed to portrey very accurately the atmosphere of the area but however failed to illustrate Hedd Wyn's true character. According to surviving family members still living in the village, he was far less serious and much less hard-working!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A poignant and unforgettable tale of a poet., May 11, 1999

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"hipbone2" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hedd Wyn [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This lyrical and lovely film may draw some favourable comparisons with "All Quiet On The Western Front" as it explores some of the same themes about the random cruelty of war.

Huw Garmon is a revelation as the doomed Welsh poet Ellis Evans. He handles a difficult role, which requires quicksilver lurches from Evans' noted boyish charm to his sobering moments of artistic reflection, with skill and aplomb. Surely this is one young British actor we will be seeing again on this side of the water!

"Hedd Wyn" deserves a place in any intelligent person's video collection. It's a well crafted and beautifully acted work with a timeless storyline.

And finally, I defy anyone to remain dry-eyed as the infamous "Black Chair" (as it came to be called from that years' Eisteddfod) is carried up to the little cottage belonging to Ellis Evans' mother.