If you were going to plan a heist that could land you in prison for the rest of your life, or even see you executed for treason, what would it be? Rubies? Gold? Art? Love? How about a large chunk of sandstone (66 cm x 41 cm x 27 cm, weighing approximately 152 kg)? Sound like a good time?

Well, Stone of Destiny is a story loosely ‘inspired by’ a grand heist of a big chunk of rock from Westminster Abbey with plans to carry it back to Scotland in a grand patriotic gesture. Writers for VUE Weekly in Edmonton have convinced me that I might still enjoy it for all the same reasons I liked movies like ‘Waking Ned Devine’ or ‘Millions’ – because it’s just bloody different. “It’s unlike any heist movie before because the treasure is a rock. A big fucking rock that is also an historic artifact. It’s the greatest symbol of Scottish nationalism, and some patriots want it.”

I’ve never really understood rampant nationalism or patriotism, as it’s basically an accident of birth that brings you to believe that the nation which lays claim to the soil beneath your mother’s bed is somehow better than others. Born in Canada, I can’t imagine anything that I’d risk my own safety and security in this way, even had the Americans have stolen the ceremonial mace from our House of Commons, all our beavers, and the secret recipe for Kraft Dinner. I’d be upset by their infringing on our nation’s sovereignty, and the lack of action on behalf of our government, but incorporating our ceremonial mace into Presidential Inaugurations would be silly, and not worth anyone’s time.

To me, borders represent little more than an obstacle; to work and to travel.

Check out the illustration of the legendary stone Stone of Scone as it was when it had been fashioned into furniture.

The film’s up this weekend in Vancouver at the Scotiabank Theatre and then at Fifth Avenue;

Join Charles Martin Smith, Director of STONE OF DESTINY on Friday, February 20 @ 7:10PM / Scotiabank Theatre, Vancouver Saturday, February 21 @ 7:20PM / Fifth Avenue Cinemas, Vancouver for an introduction to his new film and a brief Question & Answer Session following the early evening screening.

I found the tagline on the above image interesting in another way… It looked to me as if it read “ATHEIST 600 years in the making” thanks, undoubtedly to the bolding of HEIST.