Patagonia

In 1865, 163 Welsh men, women, and children left Britain in search of land where they would prosper, where they would be free to develop their own culture and speak their own language. They landed in Patagonia, a region in the southernmost portion of South America, where a Welsh-speaking community survives to this day. The cultural and linguistic connection between Patagonia and its mother country are explored in the latest film from Marc Evans, which tells the story of two women. In Cardiff, Gwen and her photographer boyfriend Rhys are having problems. He is about to embark on an assignment photographing Patagonian churches, so Gwen goes with him for a trip that will make or break their relationship. In Patagonia, elderly Argentinian native Cerys cons her introverted young neighbour Alejandro into accompanying her on a pilgrimage to her ancestral homeland. Alejandro is a reluctant chaperone initially, but he begins to appreciate the old woman and her motives, eventually enjoying the journey, particularly after he meets Welsh student Sissy. Contrasting landscapes form a striking backdrop to these discrete stories. –Michael Hayden