Bloody Sunday (film)
A docudrama on the 1972 Bloody Sunday shootings.
Bloody Sunday is a 2002 docudrama film written and directed by Paul Greengrass, based on the 1972 Bloody Sunday shootings in Derry, Northern Ireland. Produced by Granada Television as a TV film, it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 16 January before airing on ITV on 20 January and receiving a limited cinema release in London from 25 January. The film is an international co-production of the United Kingdom and Ireland, shot mostly in Ballymun in North Dublin, with some location scenes in Derry.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Paul Greengrass
- Based on
- Eyewitness Bloody Sunday; by Don Mullan
- Producer
- Mark Redhead; Don Mullan (co-producer)
- Starring
- James Nesbitt
- Tim Pigott-Smith
- Nicholas Farrell
- Gerard McSorley
- Kathy Kiera Clarke
- Cinematography
- Ivan Strasburg
- Editing
- Clare Douglas
- Music
- Dominic Muldowney
- Distributor
- Feature Film Company
Facts from the source article.
Content
The film was inspired by Don Mullan's book Eyewitness Bloody Sunday. It depicts the events of 30 January 1972 through the eyes of Ivan Cooper, an SDLP Member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and a central organiser of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in Derry. The march ended when British Army paratroopers fired on demonstrators, killing thirteen and wounding another who died later, with fourteen others wounded. A live version of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" plays over the closing credits.
Casting and production
James Nesbitt, a Protestant from Northern Ireland, plays Ivan Cooper. Don Mullan, whose book inspired the film and who was a schoolboy witness to the tragedy, appears as a Bogside Priest at the request of director Paul Greengrass. Several military characters were played by ex-members of the British Army, including Simon Mann. Gerry Donaghy is played by Declan Duddy, nephew of victim Jackie Duddy, and Big Brother 2007 housemate Seány O'Kane also appears.
Reception
The film won the Audience Award at Sundance and the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival (tied with Spirited Away), as well as the Hitchcock d'Or best film prize at the Dinard Festival of British Cinema. It appeared a week before Jimmy McGovern's TV film Sunday on Channel 4; McGovern criticised Greengrass's film for focusing on the march's leadership rather than the perspective of participants. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 92% approval rating from 102 reviews, with an average score of 7.9/10 and a consensus reading "Bloody Sunday powerfully recreates the events of that day with startling immediacy." Metacritic assigned a score of 90 out of 100 based on 31 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Bloody Sunday (film)?
Bloody Sunday stars James Nesbitt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Nicholas Farrell, Gerard McSorley and Kathy Kiera Clarke.
Who composed the music for Bloody Sunday (film)?
The music for Bloody Sunday was composed by Dominic Muldowney.
How long is Bloody Sunday (film)?
Bloody Sunday has a running time of 111 minutes.
Who distributed Bloody Sunday (film)?
Bloody Sunday was distributed by Feature Film Company.
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