Why Ben Rivers revisited a hermit in Scotland for ‘Bogancloch’ and how his return to London was

British artist and filmmaker Ben Rivers has returned to Bogancloch, nestled in a vast forest in the highlands of rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is the home of hermit Jake Williams. And that is the title of Rivers’ new film, which had its world premiere in the international competition programme, chaired by Jessica Hausner, at the 77th Locarno Film Festival on Friday.

Bogancloch depicts Williams’ life over the seasons, with other characters occasionally disrupting his solitary life. It is also a sequel to Rivers’ short film This is my land (2007) and the following feature Two years at sea (2011).

“I made one of my first short films and my first feature film with Jake Williams,” the filmmaker explains in a note on the Locarno festival website. “I like the idea of ​​going back to a person and seeing how we repeat gestures, obsessions, but also seeing how these change depending on how the world has changed.”

On Friday afternoon, Rivers discussed his new feature, which straddles the line between documentary and fiction, at a press conference in Locarno, sharing some insights into his process and experience.

“It takes a few days to adjust to coming back to London,” surrounded by people and noise again, the filmmaker explains. It’s the same in reverse, when you leave your house and go somewhere in the middle of nowhere with a man and maybe a soundman. “There are always adjustments to make in terms of living, food, washing and sounds,” he explains.

His feelings about these places have changed over the years, the director said. “I think I find it harder and harder to come back to London,” Rivers said. “I really like the quiet of the Scottish wilderness.”

On whether the film has a philosophical and life message, he said: “I guess making a film about someone who lives an isolated life could be interpreted as something selfish, I don’t know, and as someone who has cut themselves off from themselves and is no longer in touch with what’s going on. So the film maybe becomes this particular vision of how this is a perfect way of life. I’m really quite wary of that. And Jake is not that kind of person either. He connects with people. He encourages people to come and stay.”

Why did Rivers feel the need to return to Williams? “It’s kind of a sequel,” he said. “I guess my relationship with Jake [has become] a friendship.” He added that the first film was about meeting this person “without vocal language.”

In the second film, “I wanted to make slow shifts,” like listening to Williams and showing him in social settings, the filmmaker said. “He loves his interactions, so it was really important to me to bring people into his space, but also to bring him out into another space, which is a school … and also when people come to sing.”

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