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August 03, 2005
Bloody Sunday (Paul Greengrass, 2002)
I will say, first of all, that I came into this lacking in knowledge of the IRA and what's gone on there. Having discovered this film thanks to Chico, I'll be checking out other related movies such as In the Name of the Father and Michael Collins.
Bloody Sunday is, quite simply, a film that recounts what happened during a civil rights march in the town of Derry in Northern Ireland on January 30, 1972. Now, how accurate it is, along with all other things related to the conflict between Britain and Northern Ireland, is a point that has been debated to no end. But given the balance shown, and the truly human actions by both sides that led to the terrible tragedy that occurred - miscommunication, frustration, misdirected passion - I'd wager it's a rather honest portrait of what took place there that day. In fact, the filming style and way in which multiple points of view were presented reminded me very much of the more recent Der Untergang, my number one film of 2004; and to my knowledge that film is very accurate indeed.
It doesn't delve into the politics/religion/oppression behind the march with any depth, and therefore doesn't bog itself down with such nebulous concepts; instead, we are shown heartfelt and sincere portrait of regular people wanting to live normal lives caught up in an extreme situation.
James Nesbitt in the starring role of Ivan Cooper gave an excellent performance; also, it was an extraordinarily powerfully written role, and well-captured on camera. I don't want to take anything away from the portrayal so it was probably a lot of both that led to its gravity. In any case, he's every bit the heart-stirring and benevolent Protestant crusader who wants only to peacefully seek civil rights and a normal and happy life with the Catholic woman he loves. Their meeting in a side room as the phone rings off the hook paints a very real picture of two people under a great deal of wartime duress.
"Geez, do you know how many times l think we should just give this up? There isn't a day goes by l don't think ''Oh, wish l could take her to the pictures or take her to see Charlie Magee at the Stardust,'' you know.. and then l think, ''What if someone sees us?'' you know. What if someone decides to have a go at you because you're this Catholic girl..."
[phone interrupts]
"l mean, l don't know what l would do, you know? Catholic girl, Protestant civil rights, Fenian lover? So that's why l'm doing it, you know? That's why l go to the meetings, that's why l go to the marches, because, you know... l think we're worth marching for."
[phone interrupts]
"My father was in the EVA for Christ's sake, you know that. l marched in flute bands. Your brother was shot by the RUC. So, l don't take you out. We don't go to the pictures. l go to the meetings, l go to the marches, and all the time l'm thinking, if l could just sort this - you know, if just one day,
maybe soon...
we can be normal...
and we won't have to worry."
[phone interrupts]
Words fail me when attempting to sum up the emotional power of watching the events unfold that led to the massacre. You get the feeling you're on a moderately paced yet helplessly runaway train to inevitability, and you can only be forced to sit and view, to know the truth yourself, no matter how terrible it is. This happened, then this happened, then this.. heightened anger on the part of the Paras (Britsh military) because of deaths of their own in the past due to the rioting; passionate young men who see the military there to enforce the no-marches rule as an oppressive enemy who must be driven back; a breakdown in communication between the officers at the scene and the officers back at headquarters; a few physical roadblocks that interfere with the carefully-laid plans and result in more haphazard methods being taken up, which leads to rushes of adrenaline and bad judgement. In short, it all falls down.
In a film filled with poignant moments, the most poignant came toward the end, when Ivan Cooper, quite clearly in a state of shock, sits before the British media after having spent the afternoon at the hospital comforting the families of the 13 dead, and gives what statement he can.
"I just want to say this to the British Government... You know what you've just done, don't you? You've destroyed the civil rights movement, and you've given the IRA the biggest victory it will ever have.
All over this city tonight, young men... boys will be joining the IRA..
...And you will reap a whirlwind."
In my reading after watching the movie, it was interesting to observe the sharply contrasting views people hold, apparently according to their allegiance, in regards to what really happened that day. Some say the Paras were fired upon, and only returned the fire as they saw necessary. Others say it was a planned attack by the British from the get-go as an attempt to permanently quell the protesting. The truth, as in most things, lies somewhere between - and I believe this film to have given its every, solid effort to bring us as close to that goal as possible.
8.6/10
Posted by astor at August 3, 2005 06:42 PM