Irish Film Institute -International Film Directory – Film Listing

Bloody Sunday

    • Director

      Paul Greengrass

    • Credits

      Producer: Mark Redhead. Writer: Paul Greengrass

    • Principal Cast

      James Nesbitt, Simon Mann, Allan Gildea

  • Category

    Feature

Directed by Paul Greengrass, this highly regarded reconstruction of the events of Bloody Sunday (30 January 1972), when British paratroopers fired on civil rights marchers, was produced by Jim Sheridan under his production company Hell’s Kitchen. Made to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the atrocity, the film returns the viewer to the moment of the march through its swift newsreel-style shooting and editing, and through use of testimonies from participants.

Although shot in Dublin, many of the extras are local Derry inhabitants re-enacting their memories of the day and Greengrass consulted widely with all sides, including the British army, in his preparations. Particularly impressive is James Nesbitt, best-known at that point for his role in British TV comedy Cold Feet, as MP Ivan Cooper.

The film was controversially disqualified from an Academy Award nomination because it was transmitted on television in the same month as its cinema release.

Notes by Ruth Barton

Awards:
Best Feature Film Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards 2002
Best Directory of a Feature Film Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards 2002
Best Script Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards 2002
Best Sound Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards 2002
World Cinema Audience Award at the 18th Sundance Film Festival 2002
Golden Berlin Bear Award at the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival 2002

107 minutes, Ireland/UK, 2002, Colour

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