Bloody Sunday (2002)

Director:

Paul Greengrass

Writer:

Paul Greengrass (written by)

Release Date:

25 January 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Plot:

A dramatization of the Irish civil rights protest march and subsequent massacre by British troops on January 30, 1972.

Plot Keywords:

Protest March | March | Ireland | Massacre | Irish

Awards:

19 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

James Nesbitt	...	Ivan Cooper
Allan Gildea	...	Kevin McCorry
Gerard Crossan	...	Eamonn McCann
Mary Moulds	...	Bernadette Devlin
Carmel McCallion	...	Bridget Bond (as Carmel Mccallion)
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Major General Ford
Nicholas Farrell	...	Brigadier Maclellan
Christopher Villiers	...	Major Steele (as Chris Villiers)
James Hewitt	...	Colonel Tugwell
Declan Duddy	...	Gerry Donaghy
Edel Frazer	...	Gerry's girl
Joanne Lindsay	...	Mary Donaghy
Mike Edwards	...	Soldier 027
Gerry Hammond	...	Para F
Jason Stammers	...	Para G

Also Known As:

Sunday (Australia) (TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA | Denmark:15 | France:U | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Iceland:14

Filming Locations:

Ballymun, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Bórd Scannán na hÉireann

Trivia:

Ruled ineligible to compete for an Oscar in 2003 because it was shown on Irish and British television on the same night that it premiered in a London theater, a violation of the motion picture academy's Rule 3, which requires a six-month wait between the time it is shown in theaters and the time it is shown on TV.

Quotes:

Ivan Cooper: 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.

Movie Connections:

References The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Soundtrack:

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Draining, But Worthwhile

Normally I don't enjoy the handheld documentary style films, as they tend to induce waves of nausea, but Bloody Sunday had me riveted from the word go. That we already know how it's going to end is irrelevant, the pressure building on the day of the march is almost unbearable. Though there's been criticism that the film is slanted towards the republican point of view, I found it balanced, even in the depiction of the soldiers and officers. Everybody certainly looked the part and I went away feeling some sympathy for both sides. Given the close quarters and inflammatory nature of the conflict, it's amazing that bloodbaths like this (soldiers blasting civilians) haven't happened more often in Northern Ireland. It's only now, that retired soldiers have broken ranks and talked about what actually happened, that a film like this can see the light of day.