Venus Peter

Venus Peter (1989)

Drama

Produced for Scottish television, Venus Peter was financed by the Orkney Islands Council. The title character is transformed into a "sea child" when he is baptized with salt water. Though his family tries hard to accustom him to life on land, Peter (Gordon R. Strachan) yearns to go to sea -- or, at the very least, to escape his cloistered community. He finds a kindred spirit in Princess Paloma (Juliet Cadzow), the village "looney," who, alas, is eventually carted away to an institution. Briefly fascinated by poetry and music, thanks to his lovely teacher Miss Balsibie (Sinead Cusack), Peter is disillusioned when he finds his teacher in the arms of her lover (and out of her clothing). The final blow to Peter's idealism comes when his grandfather's ship is repossessed. Despite the bleakness of his surroundings and his seemingly dead-end existence, however, Peter never completely lets go of his dreams, and the film ends on a positive note.

Director: Ian Sellar

Casts

	George Anton as Billy
	Ray McAnally as Grandpa
	Sinéad Cusack as Miss Balsilbie
	Gordon R Strachan as Peter
	Louise Breslin as Leebie
	David Hayman as Kinnear
	Juliet Cadzow as Princess Paloma
	Caroline Paterson as Mother
	Peter Caffrey as Father
	Emma Dingwall as Jenny
	Ken Drury as Gowens
	Sheila Keith as Epp
	Mary MacLeod as Miss Sangster
	Christopher Fairbank as Blind Man
	Alex McAvoy as Beadle
	Julia McCarthy as Agnes
	Cecil Garson as Gollie
	Scott Heddle as Peem
	Sam Hayman as Baby Peter
	Ray Jeffries as Bank Manager
	Robin McCaffrey as Georgina
	Alan Tall as McCreevie
	Cameron Stout as Bystander
	Lorraine Buchan as Bystander
	Justin Kimmett as Little Boy

Crew