Irish Film Institute -International Film Directory – Film Listing

The Hunger: The Story of the Irish Famine

    • Director

      Ruán Magan

    • Credits

      Producers:
      Ruán Magan
      Patricia Carroll

    • Principal Cast

      Liam Neeson (narrator)

  • Category

    Documentary

Narrated by Liam Neeson, this landmark documentary marks the 175th anniversary of the start of the Great Irish Famine and provides a comprehensive guide to one of most defining moments in Irish history which led to the loss of over one million lives. The Irish experience is positioned alongside other European countries similarly stricken but less severely affected by crop failure at that time.

What caused the famine in Ireland and how did it have such a catastrophic effect? US, European and Irish historians consider the impact of political negligence; absentee landlordism; and single crop dependence which led to the loss of so many lives and the emigration of so many people spawning today’s global Irish diaspora of over 70 million.

90 minutes, Ireland, 2020, Colour


The IFI is supported
by The Arts Council

Arts Council of Ireland