Filmhouse Edinburgh will reopen on 27 June with a special screening of the documentary, Make it to Munich.
The film tells the story of teenage Scottish footballer Ethan Walker and the surgeon Professor Gordon Mackay who was instrumental in Ethan’s recovery from a near-fatal accident with pioneering work.
The duo cycled 800 miles from Hampden to Munich for Euro 24.
Ethan will be at the screening and will talk to Scotland legend Pat Nevin in a live Q & A. He had an American college football scholarship in New York State when he was hit by the driver of a car and suffered life-threatening injuries. He came back to Scotland after nine weeks and his right knee was rebuilt from scratch by Gordon Mackay.
With Ethan’s fighting spirit and Gordon’s innovative surgical skills, a healthy dose of determination and a dry sense of humour, Ethan starts to rebuild his life.
The upcoming 2024 Euros became a goal and Gordon suggested they might cycle to the opening match. The Scotland team gave Ethan the official match pennant to be exchanged by the team captains before the game.
Accompanying Ethan and Gordon is Glasgow-based filmmaker Martyn Robertson, who decides to make a no-budget documentary film about Ethan’s story, and Tartan Army foot soldier Stephen Collie. As the foursome set off from Hampden Park, they are filled with optimism and determination, for themselves, for Ethan’s recovery, and for Scotland.
Make it to Munich is a true story of the hope and camaraderie inspired by the love for the game, and the courage it takes to believe that, even against all the odds, anything is possible.
Martyn said: “Like the project to save and refurbish the Filmhouse our journey with Make it to Munich has been a triumph against the odds story, so it’s fitting that a film like this opens such an important cinema venue here in Scotland.
“We’re excited to be screening on the Filmhouse’s first day and look forward to meeting the Filmhouse audience in Edinburgh on the opening night!”
Ethan is modest about his starring role alongside his friend, Gordon. He said: “Gordon is an incredibly skilled and brilliant surgeon. I love his quirkiness and his energy. He’s not a bad footballer either…”
Tickets for the screening at Filmhouse Edinburgh on 27 June at 8.15pm are available here: https://www.filmhouse.org.uk/movie/make-it-to-munich-qa
The very first film to be shown at Filmhouse Edinburgh will be Cinema Paradiso in a programme of films curated by the Filmhouse crew. Read more here.
