I watched the documentary American Interior at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto a few days ago. It’s by Welsh singer Gruff Rhys, in which he goes on an “investigative concert tour” tracing the journey of the 18th century Welshman John Evans as he tried to find a legendary tribe of Welsh-speaking Native Americans (a 12th century prince, Madoc, was said to have travelled to America). The website and blog is at http://american-interior.com/ and can be read in English or Welsh for those interested.
Anyway, apart from quite enjoying the film (though it lacks some historical details that I asked him about after the film, as he and his co-director were in attendance and had a question and answer period, in which I used a bit of Welsh myself), I was pleased to hear SSiW mentioned by someone who was learning Welsh through the course. I don’t know what her name is, but she was speaking Welsh in the film. Well done to her!
Sorry, hang on - you had a ‘partly in Welsh’ chat with Gruff Rhys?!
There are plenty of first language Welsh speakers who’d have gone tongue-tied and star-struck in that situation, so you’re doing pretty brilliantly, frankly…
That’s a real treat to hear that one of the cast members gave us a plug - very cool indeed…
Carol: you’ve achieved one of my life goals. I’m seeing him live in London next week and damn it if I’m not going to corner him after the show for a sgwrs. I’ve spoken to him once already years ago when he was showing Seperado!. Ond, yn Saesneg.
My favourite film about Wales, the Welsh and the Welsh language EVER! I don’t just want to learn the language now, I’m on a mission! Thanks for sharing this.
Suffice to say I don’t feel so guilty watching it in the middle of the night now. As I found the link off Facebook just before I was going to bed and got caught up in a fantastic multilayered, almost mythical journey.
A brilliant documentary and pleasantly surprised by those American Welsh speakers!( or should I be, thanks to SSiW spreading the language!)
I finally saw this last night! (I know … we’re really behind the times. But we’ve got the album and we’ve seen the stage show, and we’ve got the book.
Anyway, apart from generally loving it, I was delighted to see Canton (where I live) at the beginning in all its glory, and even more delighted to see SSiW getting a mention!
that up for a very short time!