0ur opinion: :With breathtaking verisimilitude,
Bloody Sunday posits an immediate, you-are-there re-creation of lreland's most controversial contemporary tragedy. From dusk to dawn, the events of January 3O, 1972, are presented in convincing
verité fashion; by employing rapid fade-to-black transitions, director Paul Greengrass approaches two perspectives with equal anticipation of potential disaster, based on facts as reported in Don Mullan's politically influential book
Eyewitness Bloody Sunday. lvan Cooper (James Nesbitt) is, ironically, a Protestant Member of Parliament, leading a peaceful but tensely expectant civil rights march through the Catholic 'bogside' of the city of Derry, in protest of the British practice of internment without trial. He watches in horror as his throng of unarmed protesters splinters against British paramilitaries who impulsively open fire. No question where Greengrass's sympathies lie (heard but not seen, the first shots are British), but despite charges of inaccuracy and bias,
Bloody Sunday will likely stand as the definitive cinematic representation of that horrible day when deadly confusion reigned supreme. (U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' plays over the closing credits; any other choice would have been blasphemous.)
--Jeff Shannon
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* A stirring and powerful film ...
This is a gripping piece of cinema that it is very involving and very sad. lt's hard to watch some scenes and it really is an extremely emotional film, and one that presents a side of the event that is sometimes overlooked - namely the lives of the people involved.
Buyer Rating: -
lRA = FREED0M FlGHTERS!!!!
This film lets you see just how bad the British really are. Americans, don't forget we fought a similar war to get out from under their thumb. They dubbed us terrorists then just as they dub the lRA terrorists. Forget the Middle East, free lreland George!
Buyer Rating: -
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Paul Greengrass, who brought us the powerful and controversial "United 93," made a stunning film about the events that transpired on January 3O, 1972 in Londonderry. Greengrass presents the film in a documentary fashion, giving the impression that you are observing the events as they take place. 0n that day, the Civil Rights Movement, led by MP lvan Cooper, were determined to march in spite of an official ban on all such gatherings. The Northern lreland Civil Rights Association fought against many abuses of power on the part of the Northern lreland administration, but the core issue was the abolition of 0peration Demetrius, or internment. Basically, British soldiers could arrest and intern those suspected of being paramilitary groups without charge or trial.
Cooper, who came from a rural Protestant background, wanted only a peaceful march. He urged lRA members not to bring weapons to the march, and advised youth who were harassed by soldiers to "just walk away." Unfortunately, due to high-levels of lRA/British soldier clashes, the "Paras" (1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment) were out in force. ln addition, despite Cooper's pleas to the contrary, armed "Provos" (members of the Provisional lrish Republican Army) were present. lt's still not clear how it began, but shots were fired, and the Paras killed 14 unarmed marchers and wounded several others. The film clearly implies that the British shot first, though that's something that may never be determined with certainty.
Shortly after the events of Bloody Sunday, the British government convened an inquiry known as the Widgery lnquiry. lt absolved all the British soldiers of responsibility. ln response to political pressure, Tony Blair launched the Saville lnquiry, which as of now has yet to release a report.
ln the final part of the film, with lvan Cooper and other Civil Rights leaders speaking at a press conference after the events, Cooper says: "l'd like to say to the British government- you know what you've done, don't you? You've destroyed the Civil Rights Movement. Tonight, young men will be lining up to join the lRA, and you will reap a whirlwind." His words proved to be prophetic. Had Bloody Sunday not happened, it's likely that the Civil Rights Movement could have achieved what the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements are now achieving.
The acting and direction in this movie are top-noptch. Even though the viewer knows what's going to happen, one feels a certain amount of suspense. The interment issue has an eerily contemporary ring to it, and this film shows the dangers of a militarized police force. The two featurettes on the DVD are quite informative as well. ln sum, this movie is highly recommended, both for history fans and those who want to use the lessons of history to change the future.
Buyer Rating: -
* Super ...
Very dramatic without being a "Hollywood" type of film. Shows how awful the Brits actually were to Catholics in the North. Must see.
Buyer Rating: -
Bloody Sunday
lf you grew up with the lrish Civil War a constant part of the evening news, you don't want to miss this movie. James Nesbitt (Jekyll) portrays an lrish member of Parliament who is trying to make peace between the lRA and the British Government. A peaceful rally goes bad, and the horrors of the conflict come to life. The way it was filmed (hand-held cameras) lend an air of reality and the incredible sadness. This movie is based on actual events that took place in lreland during that time. lt held my attention the entire time. Highly recommended.
