Byrnes acclaimed documentary bobby sands 66 days has become one of the biggest northern irish films ever at the northern irish. Telling the factual story of sands life for the first time, this unique film sets out how he became the. The documentary film is bookended by quotes from fintan otoole. Bobby sands documentary 66 days is an essential watch. Hunger striker bobby sands has died in prison 66 days after first refusing to eat. This article is within the scope of wikiproject film. The sp ine of the film is comprised of sands own words, drawn from his hunger strike diary a unique insight into the man. In the spring of 1981 irish republican bobby sands 66day hunger strike brought the attention of the world to his cause. In the spring of 1981 irish republican bobby sands 66day hunger strike brought the. In this stopmotion short film, a bird raised by mice begins to question where she belongs and sets off on a daring journey of selfdiscovery.
This is a film full of unanswered questions, or to be precise, unasked questions. Drawing on firsthand testimony, previously unseen archive footage, sparing reconstructions and evocative animation, bobby sands. Telling the story of sands life for the first time, this unique film sets out how he became the architect of his own destiny and describes how his own personal story became overshadowed by his death, as he ascended into the ranks of international icon status. F or those whose only awareness of bobby sands comes from hunger, bobby sands. After 66 days on hunger strike, bobby sands lost his life on may 5, 1981. The 27yearold republican spent the last days of his life on a water bed to protect his fragile bones. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing bobby sands. Gandhi led the way with hunger strikes during the fight for. A gripping tale of terrible times structured around sandss decline, 66 days powers us through a sociopolitical maelstrom. Remembering bobby sands 35 facts about the revolutionary. The bobby sands film 66 days has become one of the most successful northern ireland films of all time. In 1981, bobby sands is a 27yearold member of the ira, doing a 14year sentence for weapons possession in northern irelands maze prison, when he leads fellow prisoners on a hunger strike demanding that they be treated as political prisoners. Over 66 days, bobby sands hunger strike caused a ripple effect across the globe.
Byrnes documentary about bobby sands colors its familiar formal. The documentary incorporates the stories of his nine comrades who also died. In the spring of 1981 irish republican bobby sands 66 day hunger strike brought the attention of the world to his cause. The nationalist conflict is unresolved to this day, making bobby sands 66 days a. This piercing and unforgettable documentary chronicles the story of bobby sands, the ira volunteer who in march 1981 began a hunger strike that would last an astonishing 66 days and eventually end in him losing his life, as he fought to be officially recognised as a political prisoner. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and tv news. The original pathologist s report recorded the hunger strikers causes of death as selfimposed starvation, later amended to simply starvation after protests from the dead strikers families. It went on general release in ireland on 5 august 2016, where it set a record for the highestgrossing opening weekend for an irish documentary film 50,933 or.
Bobby sands 66 days one of northern irelands biggest. Byrne, could be accused of mythologising its subject. Sands died on 5 may 1981 in the mazes prison hospital after 66 days on hunger strike, aged 27. Many idealists and freedom fighters have sanctified the hunger strike as a nonviolent way to present their political goals or human rights demands. Byrnes critically acclaimed documentary sparked controversy on its release. Sands death after 66 days marked a key turning point in the relationship. He had been in a coma for 48 hours before being pronounced dead by medical staff at the maze prison in northern ireland. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see lists of open tasks and regional and topical task forces. Its republican propaganda with scant effort at balance and the vague hint here and there that the ira may have been a little off with their campaign of murder and chaos. By the early 1980s, after two decades of violence and unrest, the situation in northern ireland took a sudden and profound turn inside the infamous maze prison. May god have mercy on my soul, said bobby sands when he began his hunger strike on march 1, 1981, as an imprisoned member of the irish. Sands death after 66 days marked a key turning point in the relationship between britain and ireland, and brought a global spotlight to the northern irish conflict which eventually triggered international efforts to resolve it.
Documentary about dolours price, one of very few women who rose to the top. Hot docs has received filmmaker permission to upload this trailer to the hotdocsfest youtube channel. Bobby sands was clear on this in his writings, and 66 days does categorically show the conditions that created the conflict in ireland. Byrne documentary gives historical context to sandss 1981 hunger strike and death in solidarity with the provisional irish. Bobby sands 66 days most successful northern irish film in. Byrne, the film centres on the belfast ira activists fast to the death at the hblocks in the maze prisonlong kesh. It concisely shows the incendiary turmoil that sands grew up through and emerged into as an adult. Bobby sands starved for 66 days in an irish prison in an attempt to gain rights for his fellow political prisoners. Bobby sands begins his hunger strike at long kesh prison. Bobby sands 66 days takes a sympathetic look at this man, who became a symbol at 27. Drawing on an irish republican tradition of martyrdom, sands emotive, nonviolent protest to be classified as a political prisoner became a defining moment in 20th century irish history. Byrnes 66 days is a well presented look at the ten ira prisoners who went on hunger strike in 1981.
That concept is forcefully reiterated in brendan j. There isnt, then, much to say about sands life, apart from those nine years in which he was imprisoned, awaiting imprisonment, or engaged in activity that would lead to his imprisonment. The wretched has a promising setting and opening act. Using special powers from a magical mask, a young wwe fan causes chaos when he enters a wrestling competition and fights.
In 1981, an imprisoned irish republican army soldier went on a hunger strike that galvanized his movement and made him a controversial global icon. Content media in 1981, bobby sands is a 27yearold member of the ira, doing a 14year sentence for weapons possession in northern irelands maze prison, when he leads fellow prisoners on a hunger strike demanding that they be treated as political prisoners. Controversy surrounding new bobby sands documentary bobby. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. He was in a coma for 48 hours before being pronounced dead by medical staff at the maze prison, co.
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