Hunger is the stunningly assured debut feature from turner. The movie stars fassbender as bobby sands, the provisional irish republican army ira volunteer and m. It shows how dysfunctional and despairing the whole remorseless process was. Advertisement the movie outlines events in the infamous maze prison in the lead up to the hunger strike, through to its aftermath and sands eventual martyrdom. He ended his strike after listening to gita and quran being read. This documentary tells the story of the irish republican army member who went on a hunger strike in 1981 to protest the treatment of ira inmates at. There are many great films about the era from the partition of ireland and.
Jan 09, 2020 this documentary tells the story of the irish republican army member who went on a hunger strike in 1981 to protest the treatment of ira inmates at the maze prison. The producer, james byrne, who had been on the irish film board. Mcqueens movie, starring michael fassbender as sands, paints the hunger strike as tragic but quite without tragic grandeur. Of all the volatile periods in northern ireland s recent history the hunger strikes is one of the most impassioned and dramatic. The hunger strike as a means of protest has been rooted in irish history for the better part of two millenniums. The protest began as the blanket protest in 1976, when the british government withdrew special category status prisoner of war rather than criminal status for convicted paramilitary prisoners. Because hunger strikes have attracted little attention from social scientists, this paper focuses narrowly on one country over a few years. Hunger 2008 the priest tries to talk bobby sands out of his. Like mentioned earlier hunger is more of an experience than it is a traditional film. This irish hunger strike began with bobby sands, who had been the chief negotiator between the first hunger strikers and prison officials, being the first prisoner to refuse food.
You have to be familiar with the 1981 irish hunger strike in order to follow the movie properly. Particularly in this century, the tactic has been effective and the hungerstrike. Contemporary irish history, which ill define here as that period from the early 1900s to today, is literally crowded with prison protests and hunger strikes as james healy, one author on the subject notes, between 191922 alone, there were approximately hunger strikes with 7 people dying during this period as a direct result, many more from health complications later on. Hunger, the first feature film by the british artist steve mcqueen, recounts the final weeks of bobby sands, the imprisoned irish nationalist who died in 1981, 66 days into a hunger strike. It concerns the fierce battle between the irish republican army and the british state, which in 1981 led to a hunger strike in which 10 ira prisoners died. Between 1917 and 1981 a total of 22 irish men have died on hunger strike in this phase of the struggle for irish unity. A mood piece with impressive historical balance steve.
It led to many deaths but ultimately set sinn fein on a path to peace and powersharing. While it is a consuming read, it offers a balanced account of not only the hunger strike, but also the political, social and religious climate in ireland at that time. Of all the volatile periods in northern irelands recent history the hunger strikes is one of the most impassioned and dramatic. During the protest 10 prisoners from the provisional irish republican army and the irish national liberation army had starved themselves to death in the hunger strike. With gerard mcsorley, bik mcfarlane, richard orawe, bernard ingham. Bobby sands became an international figure if not a household name, whether as martyr or terrorist, alongside thirtysome other men.
Fassbender carries mcqueens film from initial hunger strike to final agonizing breath. Hunger is a 2008 britishirish historical drama film directed by steve mcqueen about the 1981 irish hunger strike. Hunger is an intense and powerful dramatization of the 1981 irish hunger strike. The reason for this hunger strike was to improve conditions of harijans. Bobby sands leads the inmates of a northern irish prison in a hunger strike. Within northern ireland and indeed within the international stage as a whole, there were extreme and polarized reactions to the 1980 and 81 hunger strikes in the hblock of long kesh. For many years, this was the epicentre of the northern irish war, the front line where 53 republican prisoners engaged in two hunger strikes, the second of which, in. From steve mcqueen, director of 2018s widows, comes a movie about a 1981 hunger strike in a prison in northern ireland. The hunger strike a young man in northern ireland volunteered for a mission of certain death. Dublin, ireland, september 20, 2017 lifesitenews a young irish aid worker has begun a hunger strike in hopes of persuading the irish prime minister or taoiseach to watch a video about. The 1981 irish hunger st rike was the culmination of a fiveyear protest during the troubl es by irish republican prisoners in n orthern ireland. In 1978, the dispute escalated into the dirty protest. Mar 08, 2009 hunger, the first feature film by the british artist steve mcqueen, recounts the final weeks of bobby sands, the imprisoned irish nationalist who died in 1981, 66 days into a hunger strike. Tags biography, drama, history language english, irish director steve mcqueen cast stuart graham, laine megaw, brian milligan.
Hunger is a 2008 historical drama film directed by steve mcqueen and starring michael fassbender, liam cunningham, and liam mcmahon, about the 1981 irish hunger strike. Based on the 1981 hunger strike by irish republican prisoners in northern ireland, some mothers son stars helen mirren as kathleen quigley and fionnula flanagan as annie higgins the mothers of two of the strikers. Irish republican bobby sands died in 1981 after embarking on a hunger strike. The 1981 irish hunger strike was the culmination of a fiveyear protest during the troubles by irish republican prisoners in northern ireland. Ten men dead offers very good insight into the 1980 maze hunger strike. The hunger strike, and institutionalized fasting, has roots deep in irish tradition, we learn. The roll of honour of these martyrs of irish republicanism is as follows. Ashe was imprisoned in mountjoy jail in dublin for delivering a seditious speech to a public. Not for the faint of heart, star michael fassbender looks emaciated in. Sep 20, 2017 dublin, ireland, september 20, 2017 lifesitenews a young irish aid worker has begun a hunger strike in hopes of persuading the irish prime minister or taoiseach to watch a video about. His second longest hunger strike started on 8 may 1933 and ended on 29 may.
A 21st century masterwork steve mcqueens film about the 1981 hunger strike sees kerry superstar michael fassbender put in the performance of his career so far as bobby sands himself. Patricks day with a rowdy mass of revelers is not your idea of a good time, you can stay in and quietly celebrate irish culture by taking in a good irish film. The hunger strike which ended 35 years ago on december 18th was followed by another in 1981. It was a key event in the relationship between the british government and irish republicans, a unifying force for nationalists and a focal point for world opinion. Hunger follows life in the maze prison, northern ireland shortly before and during the infamous 1981 ira hunger strike led by bobby sands. In hunger, steve mcqueen views bobby sandss story through. Roll of honorhunger strikers republican sinn fein poblachtach. In october 1923 two men died when up to 8,000 ira prisoners went on hunger strike to protest their imprisonment by the new irish free state formed after the partition of ireland in 1921. These were the families of the 10 men who died on hunger strike in the. Hunger 2008 film hunger is a 2008 historical drama film directed by steve mcqueen and starring michael fassbender, liam cunningham, and liam mcmahon, about the 1981 irish hunger strike. Michael fassbender, whose mother is irish, plays sands in steve mcqueens debut film, which earned the coveted camera.
The 1981 irish hunger strike was a hunger protest in northern ireland by irish republican. Apr, 2017 the hunger strike, and institutionalized fasting, has roots deep in irish tradition, we learn. Jan 09, 2020 from steve mcqueen, director of 2018s widows, comes a movie about a 1981 hunger strike in a prison in northern ireland. Three days in, sands is down to 62 kg and feeling exceptionally well. The plot centres on ira volunteer and mp bobby sands who led the second ira hunger strike at the northern ireland maze prison in an attempt to regain political status for republican prisoners. Between 1917 and 1981 a total of 22 irish men have died on hungerstrike in this phase of the struggle for irish unity.
The movie hunger by steve mcqueen 1129 words 5 pages hunger 2008 steve mcqueen film analysis rooted in the 1981 irish hunger strike, artist steve mcqueens brutally raw film hunger retraces the crusade of provisional irish republican army prisoners who desired special category status while imprisoned at maze compound prison. The 1981 irish hunger strike was a hunger protest in northern ireland by irish republican prisoners during the troubles. A strike that led to the deaths of 10 ira and inla. May 14, 1987 ten men dead offers very good insight into the 1980 maze hunger strike. Particularly in this century, the tactic has been effective and the hunger strike. With an epic eye for detail, the film provides a timely exploration of the final act of. Thus for the irish, especially the northern catholic republicans, the hunger strike, linked as it is to religiopolitical martyrdom and the pantheon of irish heroes, is another means, possibly a weapon of last resort, of. Michael fassbender isnt affraid of doing controversial movies, as weve seen in the previous post. Hunger is about irish republican bobby sands leading the inmates of a northern irish prison in a hunger strike. Apr 24, 2015 the hunger strike a young man in northern ireland volunteered for a mission of certain death. Irish republican bobby sands leads the inmates of a northern irish prison in a hunger strike imdb description. Best irish movies on netflix irish films to stream on st. Three men died on hunger strike against the irish government in the 1940s. Melanie mcfadyean on the legacy of the hunger strikes in.
He led a hunger strike against conditions in hm prison maze, northern ireland, in 1981. The movie hunger by steve mcqueen 1129 words bartleby. Irish republican bobby sands leads the inmates of a northern irish prison in a hunger strike. Not for the faint of heart, star michael fassbender looks emaciated in the. What began as a protest in 1976, against the british governments withdrawal of special category status for convicted paramilitary prisoners, culminated five years later with hunger striker bobby sands being elected a member of parliament, prompting major media. The first of them was bobby sands, whose agonizing death is seen with an implacable level gaze in the closing act of the film. The irish commission for justice and peace icjp issued a statement on the hunger strike. A history of the hunger strike of 1981 including an account of events with pictures and related links. The reason for his lifes first longest hunger strike was for the sake of hindumuslim unity. Bobby sands became an international figure if not a household name, whether as. The quartet are the stars of irish legend john crowleys. With an epic eye for detail, the film provides a timely exploration of what. The protest began as the blanket protest in 1976, when the british government withdrew special category status for convicted paramilitary prisoners.
Thomas ashe, kerry, 5 days, 25 september 1917 force fed by tube, died as a result. Irish prolifer goes on hunger strike to challenge pro. Was ira hunger striker bobby sands as romantic a figure as. After the ira was reformed in the 1970s, hunger strikes became common once again. It was a desperate business, and hunger is a desperate film. The 2008 britishirish historical drama movie, directed by steve mcqueen and starring michael fassbender, liam cunningham, and liam mcmahon, is about the 1981 irish hunger strike.
A tribute page to the 10 brave 1981 irish hungerstrikers. Mar 03, 2006 for many years, this was the epicentre of the northern irish war, the front line where 53 republican prisoners engaged in two hunger strikes, the second of which, in 1981, resulted in the deaths. Michael fassbender, whose mother is irish, plays sands in steve mcqueens debut. Sands is portrayed by irish german actor michael fassbender, interestingly and in light of the film s subject matter, fastbenders mother is the greatgrandniece of irish revolutionary and politician michael collins. From 1916 to 1923, about 10,000 irish republican prisoners went on hunger strike counting multiple hunger strikes by the same individual multiple times. Feb 07, 2018 irish republican bobby sands died in 1981 after embarking on a hunger strike. Spend march 17 on the couch, and you dont have to worry about hangovers.
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