What are some good movies about Irish struggles?

Question

I'm looking for some good flicks that depict the Irish struggles for freedom. I've already seen Michael Collins, I haven't seen very many movies on the subject, maybe I'm just not looking in the right places.

Answer 1

No. you are right. there is not a lot of movies on our struggle. I don't know why...we don't regard it with as much pride as we should do.
Yes the Wind that Shakes the Barley is the only one I can think of...and it does not match up to Michael Collins which I love. Of course there is references in many movies, like the movies mentioned above.
Sorry. I really can't help you more.

Answer 2

I just watched one last week.. .....hmm.. I don't remember the name.. I'll figure it out.. ah.. found it.. Johnny Was (it's not ALL about that, but it does tie into it.. )
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426501/plotsummary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAIknOexAI

another good one is The Devils Own
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOWX4SC8nA

And for the record, Braveheart is Scotland.. NOT Ireland.. and another note.. The Crying Game really does fit this topic very well..

Answer 3

Try the Crying Game. Odd film but shows the confusion for members of the IRA

Answer 4

Agaths ashes is really good,coming from a 13 year old!!!It's brill,check it out

Answer 5

THE DEVIL'S OWN
Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt

Answer 6

Gangs of New York
The Departed..........the whole movie isn't about their struggles.......but bits and pieces

Answer 7

The wind that shook the barley.

Answer 8

The Informer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026529/
"In 1922, an Irish rebel informs on his friend, then feels doom closing in."
This is a brilliant film, focusing on the people involved and giving a sense of how long The Troubles have existed.

In the Name of the Father
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107207/
"Man's coerced confession to an IRA bombing he didn't do imprisons his father as well; a British lawyer helps fight for their freedom."

A War of Children (1972 TV movie)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0069484/
"Two families in Belfast, one Protestant and one Catholic, find that their long-standing friendship is threatened by the escalating sectarian violence that surrounds them."
That description is so weak since this could be one of the most powerful films ever made about Ireland's problems and how they are passed on from generation to generation. It's a remarkable piece of filmmaking that rarely gets shown.

The following are from the site noted in the source box:
Cal (1984)
A widowed librarian and a young man have a passionate love affair amidst the violent background of the conflict long afflicting the city of Ulster.

Captain Lightfoot (1955)
Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush star in this tale of the 19th century Irish rebellion.

Harry's Game (1982 TV movie)
A TV movie about the IRA and terrorism, with a famous title song by Clannad.

Michael Collins: 1996. A true story of the 1920s and 30s, set in Dublin and Radthrum, county Wicklow. This political tale stars Liam Neeson as Michael Collins, Alan Rickman as the IRA leader, and Julia Roberts as Michael's love interest. Michael is in charge of 'mayhem' as Liam tries to talk and ineptly fight the war. Michael does a much better job at guerilla tactics, especially when Liam is off 'negotiating' things.

Odd Man Out (1947)
James Mason stars in this classic film noir directed by Carol Reed. An Irish rebel, being hunted by police in Belfast, encounters both friend and foe in his flight. Well done drama, one of the first to address "The Troubles" between northern and southern Ireland.

The Outsider (1979)
An Irish-American heads back to Ireland to help out the IRA, but discovers he's being used as a tool for propaganda instead.

Parnell (1937)
Clark Gable stars in this tale of the man and how his political career was ruined. Good historical movie - a must for someone looking to understand recent Irish history.

Patriot Games (1992)
Harrison Ford, Patrick Bergin. Not really in Ireland (except for a brief scene or two). An ex-CIA man accidentally aborts an IRA splinter group hit and is targeted by them for the rest of the movie.

Ryan's Daughter
Starring Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles, this story of love and passion was directed by David Lean. It's a long tale about a young woman growing up, and choosing between a solid schoolmaster and an energetic young English soldier. Being Northern Ireland, few villagers approve of the English. Unlike most of the other movies in this list, the people are harsh and cruel, teasing the local cripple mercilessly. The father, Ryan, appears loving and loyal but has secrets of his own.

Shake Hands with the Devil (1959)
James Cagney is a medical professor who also secretly helps run the IRA of the 1920s. He's only for a Republic of Ireland, and fights his own friends when they wish to sign the treaty. A young medical student, whose father was killed in the Hall of Records, first refuses to join the fight. He is swept into it, and ends up playing a pivotal role. Like Michael Collins 40 years later, it shows both the English and the hard-liner Irish to be "bad" and the middle-of-the-road Irish to be "good". Everyone suffers, though.

War of the Buttons (1984)
The children of a 'scruffy' village are always at odds with the uniform-wearing boys of the nearby town. It all starts when the townies call the villagers 'tosspots'. Upset, but not sure what it means, the townies sneak over to paint messages on the townie's church. ... The 'war' escalates between the boys, with them taking buttons as war-trophies. The children, in so many ways, are merely emulating the adults of their towns without realizing it.

NOTE:
The Molly Maguires: 1970. Richard Harris, Sean Connery. This movie isn't in Ireland at all, but is about Irish coal workers in pitiful conditions in Pennsylvania in the 1870s. Kids and adults are sent into the ground for long, grueling hours, breathing in coal dust under a candle in their hat. They're docked for all the supplies they use - axes, explosives, everything. They barely survive on their meager income. Strikes had failed, so now a small group is blowing up caves to make their point. Connery is in charge of these "Molly Maguires", while Harris is an undercover agent sent in to ferret them out. Very slow movie, but poignant look at how the Irish had to live.

It might be interesting to see how trouble followed the Irish in America. People placed this sign in their windows: "No Irish Need Apply." That title has been used for several songs by Irish Immigrants.

P.S. I'm of Irish descent on both sides of the family. Some are from the north; some, from the south. Yes, we have Catholic on one side, but my father parted ways; my mother's side is Church of Christ. In a way, The Troubles ended between their families. I still long to go to Ireland, a dream I've had throughout my life. Yes, I've seen nearly all of the films above. I even got to meet and speak with Martin Ritt, director of "The Molly Maguires".

Answer 9

"Brave Heart," might be one. Even if its not it's still a good movie though a bit long. It has to do with the English in Irland around the Middle ages.

Answer 10

Angela's Ashes is really good, sad, tragic...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145653/