Where You're Meant To Be - a documentary by Paul Fegan
Paul Fegan’s first feature documentary follows Scottish cult-pop raconteur and former Arab Strap frontman Aidan Moffat as he tours Scotland in 2014, performing his modern re-interpretations of old folk songs.
It was meant to be a tour that celebrated communities and lore. But just before they hit the road, Moffat met Sheila Stewart: a 79-year-old force of nature, the last in a line of travelling folk royalty, and a balladeer whose life – and unexpected death, in 2014 – upturned Moffat’s folk assumptions, and diverted the course of Fegan’s film.
The ensuing film is a warm-hearted journey through music, mortality, landscape and time. It’s also a moving, wry and enlightening depiction of two of Scotland’s most distinct and vital voices, as they cross paths (and words): Moffat believes Scotland’s oldest songs are ripe for re-working against a contemporary urban backdrop. Stewart does not.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS ABOUT SHEILA & AIDAN SYNOPSISBlog
Exploring connection: ‘Where You’re Meant to Be’ & the rise of virtual gf experiences
In contrast to the traditional connections showcased in the documentary, in real life we have the advent of platforms like Lovescape reshaping how we understand social interactions and bonds. This site and other similar ones present the virtual gf experience, where you can design your dream virtual companion to chat for hours, as if you were chatting to a friend. Thanks to the advancement of AI and similar technologies, these virtual companions sound and act human, giving users a sense of belonging and connection. While this might seem distant from traditional interactions, it’s a reflection of our human desire to connect, which is wired into us. We live in a technological society, and therefore we adapt to our current times and interact in a tech-driven form.
Where You’re Meant To Be will be screened in UK cinemas from 17 June. The cinema release will be accompanied by a live event tour, presenting Q&As and performances with Aidan Moffat and the film’s director and producer Paul Fegan.
Where You’re Meant To Be will only be showing in UK cinemas for now. Get notified when the film is showing in your part of the world or becomes available on DVD and online.
The accompanying live album of Moffat’s personal, often bawdy, modern takes on old Scottish folk classics was recorded by the banks of Loch Ness in Drumnadrochit Village Hall, one of the highlights of the tour.