Overview
You've Been Trumped is a documentary of the battle between a staunch bunch of Scottish home owners and the rather officious Mr Donald Trump over a precious piece of wilderness.
A classic David and Goliath story, You've Been Trumped references the 1983 picture filmed in the area Local Hero in which Burt Lancaster plays a land hungry oil tycoon - a character not unlike Mr Trump. The American celebrity billionaire wants to build "the greatest golf course in the world" but the site for the proposed development happens to be somewhat of an ecological treasure. The hundreds of acres on the northeast coast of Scotland are deemed one of Europe's most environmentally sensitive stretches of coastline, but that doesn't seem to worry Mr Trump. Neither does the fact that the surrounding area is already covered in golf courses and luxury accommodation.
The project is met with strong opposition from locals and environmental groups, and planning permission is denied by the local council. However, Trump's claims of benefits to the economy — providing jobs, boosting international tourism, and cleaning up the area, "getting rid of those unsightly dumps” (by which he means people’s houses) appear to have some sway. The Scottish government overturns its own environmental laws and allows Mr Trump to go ahead with his grand development. The promised asset to the local economy quickly takes on a different tone. The land is ripped apart and locals are threatened with Compulsory Purchase (CPO) and bullied into submission by the Trump party.
It is clear that filmmaker, Anthony Baxter’s sympathies lie with the local people who you come to know and empathise with; Michael Forbes, his mother Molly, David Milne, Susan Monroe, and he finds a personal angle through their voices. It would seem that Donald Trump is clearly the antagonist in this story, but it’s not quite as simple as that. The Scottish Government and local authorities certainly have a lot to answer for.
You've been Trumped is thought-provoking and emotive. It'll have you running hot and cold and hooked as the story plays out in unexpected ways. While the beginning is somewhat slow and drawn out, the latter half certainly kicks up a notch in terms of pace and intensity. Even Baxter himself gets arrested by the cops who appear to shirk their roles as protectors of the community.
Unfortunately, unlike Local Hero, there's no happy ending. As You've Been Trumped hits screens worldwide, the development remains incomplete. Trump is threatening to pull out if a planned offshore wind farm goes ahead because he doesn't want it to spoil his view while he’s playing golf. Because the future of the local economy will be largely determined by the success of the development, Donald Trump effectively holds their lives in his hands. Let's hope that beneath that ridiculous comb-over there are thoughts that go beyond making money.