THE FALLS begins in County Wicklow, Ireland, with Orchard Falla staring anxiously at the horizon. We are not told the cause of his fear. However, it is plain that it is linked to the Lleyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, North Wales (between Cardigan Bay and Caernarvon Bay). I found this reference perplexing - why does the film begin this way? Beginnings are important, as Edward Said reminds us, and Peter Greenaway has suggested that like Falla, THE FALLS might be looking in the wrong direction entirely in its concern to investigate the VUE.

I then realised that references to the Peninsula are made throughout THE FALLS, specifically to the towns or villages of Aberdaron, Abersoch, and Botwinnog, to Bardsey Island at the tip of the Peninsula, and to the town of Barmouth a short distance to the south. Immediately below I offer some notes on these towns. A map can be accessed by clicking on the icon at the bottom of this page.

1. Aberdaron
   Two VUE victims owned or leased properties in Aberdaron. Outside of Aberdaron lies Fay Mar. Biography 62 informs us that this farm is owned, or part-owned, by the Hitchcock estate. 'Fay Mar' is said to be the name of a boat at the site of the first bird attack in Hitchcock's 'The Birds'.

2. Abersoch
   Abersoch is a small rural seaside resort where 'comfortable parochialism looks after the unfortunate but smothers eccentricity'. Afracious Fallows was Secretary of the Abersoch Audubon Ornithological Society.

3. Botwinnog
   Any discussion of Botwinnog must begin with the Boulder Orchard, part of the Tyddyn-Corn Farm. The orchard is recognised as being the geographical epicentre of the VUE in Wales. Before going any further I should state that a historian of the Lleyn Peninsula has confirmed the existence of the Tyddyn-Corn Farm: it lies at approximately 24.5E 30N. This fact suggests that anyone planning a Greenaway convention should hold it in Botwinnog, if not in the Boulder Orchard itself. The fax number of the nearest tourist office (Absersoch) is UK1758 712929.
   Near the Tyddyn-Corn Farm lies 'the House of the Two Palms', owned by Betheda Fallbutus.
   There is a great deal of information in THE FALLS relating to the Boulder Orchard and only a selection is reproduced here.
   
   Biography 59 states that it is necessary to believe that the Boulder Orchard is the epicentre of the VUE if you want to believe also in the Theory of the Responsibility of Birds.
   
   Custodians of the orchard: H. E. Carter, Rapper Begol, Caruso Phelpis, Allia Fallanx.
   
   Agrimany Fallchester was arrested and fined for exploiting the area around the site of the Boulder Orchard. Each year he counts the leaves on the orchard's eleven trees and scrupulously measures the root-growth. He has calculated the value of the Boulder Orchard's apples in a range of currencies and claims to have discovered in the disposition of the rocks and trees and intricate system of channels and passage ways that, in miniature, matched both the pilgrim tracks of the Lleyn Peninsula (see the note on Bardsey Island below) and the known routes of migrational birds in the northern hemisphere (his knowledge of this probably comes from Tulse Luper's celebrated book).
   
   Vassian Falluger has drawn and photographed the orchard. It would seem Falluger is a descendent of Tristram Shandy's Uncle Toby for he plans to build a full scale model of the orchard. He maintains the most successful plants in the Orchard are the Cransebill, the Ragged Robin, and the Bird's Foot Trefoil.
   
   
4. Bardsey Island
   The Island is popular with ornithologists who flock to see its abundant resident and migratory bird life. The Island is also a former pilgrimage centre: it boasts a 6th-century ruined church and 20,000 saints are supposedly buried there (the Island is also known as 'The Isle of Saints'). This last fact is not irrelevant as biography 87 makes reference to pilgrim tracks in the Lleyn Peninsula (see note on Botwinnog above) and Armeror Fallstag has speculative plans to convert the island into a VUE sanctuary and last resting-place for severely afflicted VUE victims. ("In no more than 2,000 words discuss the claim that VUE victims are to be regarded as modern-day saints.") In passing, it is perhaps worth noting that in anticipation of the conversion a considerable number of VUE victims have already been buried in mainland cemeteries close to the island. It is the birthplace of Lacer Fallacet. Biography 22 refers to the pelagic birds that nest there. Tolley Falluger normally lives on a boat in the turbulent Bardsey Island Straits. Finally, biography 91 makes reference to the book 'The Dogs on Bardsey Island' (see also biography 7 for another reference to dogs on the island).
   Biography 22 informs us a boat trip from the island to the mainland takes about 20 minutes.

5. Barmouth
   This is a town to the south of the Lleyn Peninsula. Appropinquo Fallcatti lives there. He plans a dramatised version of the VUE to rival the Passion Play at Oberammergau (a town that is not in my atlas).

6. Hell's Mouth (also known as 'Porth Neigwl')
   Biography 36 reminds us that Hell's Mouth is to be found at the southern tip of the peninsula.

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