Directed by:
Paul GreengrassScreenplay:
Paul GreengrassCinematography:
Ivan StrasburgComposer:
Dominic MuldowneyCast:
James Nesbitt, Allan Gildea, Gerard Crossan, Tim Pigott-Smith, Nicholas Farrell, Christopher Villiers, Gerard McSorley, Darren Healy, Eva Birthistle (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
On 30th January 1972, British soldiers shot dead 13 unarmed civilians taking part in an anti-internment civil rights march in Derry, Northern Ireland. The event was a major turning point in the history of the modern Irish troubles, driving many young men into the IRA and fuelling a 25-year cycle of violence. This powerful, award-winning film tells the story of Bloody Sunday in just one day from dusk till dawn. (Via Vision Entertainment)
(more)Videos (1)
Reviews (9)
Before Paul Greengrass embarked on his filmmaking career, he worked as a political observer, focusing his global scale attention mostly on Northern Ireland. It was during this time that he gathered an incredible amount of facts and personal knowledge that he later transferred into this film. Right from the beginning, strong political incorrectness is apparent as one of the involved parties clearly "loses," but it's not the director's fault. With documentary-like impartiality, the film reconstructs events hour by hour (later almost minute by minute) and presents them in an incredibly unbearable and brutally authentic atmosphere. It quickly, succinctly, and very clearly showcases the stance of both sides. Moreover, he divides the plot into thirds, with the first literally squeezing the viewer with anticipation of real hell, the second raising the question "Why?" and the final "mourning of the dead" is, in my opinion, one of the most emotionally charged moments in the history of cinema. Its lack of sentiment puts even Steven Spielberg's film endings to shame. When I saw the mention of the queen, honors, and the number of those punished in the closing credits, which I read with teary eyes (seriously!), I was truly speechless!
()
A very documentary and realistic account of the events running up to Black Sunday on January 30th, 1972; an event that fueled the IRA’s cause... The movie follows (without judging) how all of the parties involved saw things. Greengrass for the first time showed that he is not only a very able screenwriter, but also a very talented director whose style of shaky directing and camera sucks you into the action. Despite being very strong with lots of powerful moments, the ending could have been drawn out a little longer, letting it sink in better, like in United 93.
()
An amazingly captivating portrait of the events of a heated afternoon. The documentary format is very effective, there are moments that make you believe you are watching authentic footage. The action is not very clear at times, but that’s appropriate for the confusion of the events. It would take Greengrass a couple more films to perfect his style, but Bloody Sunday is still bloody good.
()
A highly evocative and uncomfortable spectacle that digs deep into the skin with its authenticity and low-budget execution. After it was over I was furious and couldn't believe what people are capable of and the injustices they can tolerate, which was precisely the intention of the director. It's not a particularly gripping film and with the exception of the last act nothing much happens, but WHAT and especially HOW it happens afterwards clearly overwhelms everything and in the end it's the viewer who Greengrass gives the K.O. to, perfectly imprinting his vision of what really happened back then – I wish it had never happened. 4 and 1/2 stars.
()
Greengrass's account of the memorable Bloody Sunday of 30 January 1972 is remarkable not in the facts he presents to the viewer (after all, this painful blemish on British politics is widely known in Western Europe and many documentaries have been made about it), but in the form in which it is presented. Greengrass's evocative direction, backed by nervous, jittery camerawork, successfully gives the viewer the impression that they are not watching a film reconstruction, but a documentary recording of one of the participants in the demonstration. I would argue that the main idea of the film is the words of the organiser of the demonstration at a press conference on the same day that 27 people stained Irish soil with their blood: “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.” 4 1/2 *.
()
Gallery (15)
Photo © 2002 Paramount Pictures Classics
![Bloody Sunday - Making of](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/159/950/159950219_e66f74.jpg)
Ads