Hearts Across the Sea tells the story of the Shetland Bus through the voices of people who remember the operation and those closely connected to its legacy. The 30-minute film offers a deeply personal perspective on a story that forged lasting bonds between Shetland and Norway.
A new documentary is preserving some of the last living memories of one of the most remarkable chapters in Shetland’s wartime history.
During the Second World War, the Shetland Bus provided a vital link across the North Sea between Shetland and Nazi-occupied Norway. Operating from Scalloway, crews made dangerous journeys carrying agents, supplies and equipment into occupied Norway, while bringing people escaping the occupation back to Shetland.
The film features Shetlanders Lexie Watt, Tommy Isbister and Douglas Smith, alongside Scalloway Museum Trustee Bill Moore and Astrid Larsen, daughter of legendary Shetland Bus skipper Leif Larsen.
Their memories and personal connections bring this extraordinary period of history to life, while footage from events held in 2025 to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War shows how the shared history between Shetland and Norway continues to be remembered today.
Scalloway Museum curator Laurie Goodlad says preserving these memories is increasingly important as so many voices and personal recollections from the period have already been lost.
“This film gives us a wonderful opportunity to share those stories more widely, and we hope it will be enjoyed by audiences far and wide.”
Claire White produced Hearts Across the Sea and Salmon Scotland co-funded the project. The film is available free online, allowing these memories and the remarkable story of the Shetland Bus to reach audiences in Shetland, Norway and around the world.
Visit Scalloway Museum to learn more about the remarkable story of the Shetland Bus.