GERMANY: A FILM ABOUT THE 1972 BLOODY SUNDAY TRAGEDY IN NORTHERN IRELAND MAKES ITS INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE AT THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

Record ID: 389037

  • Title: GERMANY: A FILM ABOUT THE 1972 BLOODY SUNDAY TRAGEDY IN NORTHERN IRELAND MAKES ITS INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE AT THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL
  • Date: 7th February 2002
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 7, 2002) (REUTERS) MCU (English) DIRECTOR PAUL GREENGRASS SAYING: "It does seem to speak to people beyond Britain and Ireland and I think it may be because firstly, its the story from the very beginning of our war on terrorism. I don't like those words but you know, those are the words that are used today and its a terrible warning about what can
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 2002 12:00
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  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5GYRI6DRNUWP9HVA6YGQ4HFF9
  • Story Text: The Berlin Film Festival is continuing its tradition of riveting yet controversial films with the international premiere of a new film about the 1972 Bloody Sunday tragedy when British Soldiers killed 13 civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland.
    A riveting yet disturbing film about the 1972 Bloody Sunday tragedy when British soldiers killed 13 civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland made its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday.
    A British-Irish co-production made for the most part with hand-held cameras, the film attempts to portray in virtual- documentary style the event from the viewpoint of both the British paratroopers and the Northern Irish marchers.
    Thirteen unarmed people were killed and 14 injured in a hail of gunfire lasting about 15 minutes. The mayhem in Londonderry turned a feud between Catholics and Protestants into 30 years of Troubles in the British-ruled province, which left 3,600 dead.
    We wanted to tell the truth about it, to be as authentic as possible but in the spirit of reconciliation, the films British director Paul Greengrass said at a news conference.
    This film does that and it will hopefully play a part however small in the evolving peace process.
    Bloody Sunday is one of 23 films competing for the Golden Bear awards at the festival, considered one of Europe's top events after Cannes and alongside Venice. Also making its international debut on Thursday was the French film Bridget.
    Bloody Sunday, an award winner at the Sundance Film Festival last month, tells the story by focussing on two men -- a charismatic Protestant civil rights leader named Ivan Cooper who tries to prevent violence and a 17-year-old Catholic rebel.
    Filmed without additional lighting and with actors instructed to create their own dialogue to make it as realistic as possible, Bloody Sunday has no mood-creating musical soundtrack or any of the other fine polish of Hollywood films.
    Although thick Irish accents and incomprehensible British acronyms make it hard to follow the story at times, audiences are treated to a scintillating behind-the-scenes look at the misunderstandings and miscalculations that led to the tragedy.
    It was a complex and messy event with roots in the Catholic protest coming down the hill towards the immovable object of Protestant-Unionist-British government intransigence, said Greengrass. And when they hit, violence is the result.
    Although an indictment of the British forces that opened fire on the marchers, the film, which uses real former British paratroopers, tries to shed light on the British army's actions.
    We wanted to understand what it felt like to be a British soldier that day, to embrace what it felt like to be a soldier in a riot without deflecting the truth, Greengrass said.
    Cooper, the civil rights leader, said the film was authentic and had remarkable integrity -- although he was initially sceptical it could be done. He said Bloody Sunday ended up leading many thousands to join the Irish Republic Army (IRA).
    I was at first sceptical that a Englishman could make this film, Cooper told the news conference. It is a day that is so important to Ireland, a day of great tragedy and a day of great shame. It added petrol to those who support violence. That single day mean that many thousands joined the IRA.
    The memory of Bloody Sunday has been kept alive through music -- with Irish rock group U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday --- and annual marches. The song is played as the credits roll.
    An initial British inquiry into the matter, dismissed by some as a whitewash, exonerated the soldiers. But there is hope of healing the still festering wounds between the two sides.
    The provinces 1998 Good Friday peace agreement set up a power-sharing, home-rule government, and a new inquiry into Bloody Sunday could help secure a lasting peace.
    ---ENDS---
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