Notes from a Low Orbit review – slight but magical doc about small-town Scottish life

The mundane joys of life in a small Scottish town are explored in Notes from a Low Orbit, a sweet-natured, if sometimes patience-testing (and confusingly titled) new documentary from Mark Lyken that mostly sits as a fly on the wall, watching various citizens’ day-to-day lives in the town of Hawick. His static, almost Roy Andersson-esque camera captures various tableaux of Hawick-ian life, from the completely ordinary (like an elderly couple cleaning their wellies) to the downright surreal (a marching band passing by Lyken’s camera as they walk and play through a desolate-looking bit of woodland).

Though we do occasionally hear Lyken’s voice as he chats to the more conversational subjects (in particular a goofball local guitarist), he provides no narration or interviews, instead letting Hawick just speak for itself. Sometimes, especially in the shots of empty buildings or fields, this can give the film the air of news footage b-roll, but it’s generally compelling enough just watching these people go about their days. There are surprises to be found – including the unexpected volume of American accents you hear throughout – and the way Lyken blends sounds from one scene into the next really gives you the texture of a living, breathing town.

It's unclear what, if anything, Lyken really wants us to take away from Notes from a Low Orbit, and you have seen a lot of what it has to offer by about the 50 minute mark of its 90 minute runtime, but there are some treasures of scenes peppered throughout, from a funny chat with a local historian to a breakdancing troupe being gently mocked by some kids during their practice session. It’s a light and quizzical doc put together by someone with a good eye, and even better ear, for the magic of the quotidian.

Notes from a Low Orbit is released on True Story on 16 June.