Here are some films specifically related to the IRA:
“In the Name of the Father”, 1993
Director: Jim Sheridan
Directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, this film is based on the true story of the Guildford Four, a group of people wrongfully convicted of an IRA pub bombing in Guildford, England. It examines issues of justice and the relationship between a father and his son against the backdrop of the Troubles.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson, John Lynch, Mark Sheppard, Beatie Edney, Frank Harper, Britta Smith, Corin Redgrave, Gerard McSorley;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama, crime, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “In the Name of the Father” on the website imdb.com
“Michael Collins”, 1996
Director: Neil Jordan
A biographical drama starring Liam Neeson as Michael Collins, the film covers Collins' role in the establishment of the Irish Free State and touches on his involvement in the IRA during the struggle for independence from Britain.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea, Alan Rickman, Julia Roberts, Ian Hart, Richard Ingram, John Kenny, Ronan McCairbre, Jer O'Leary, Brendan Gleeson, Stuart Graham, Sean McGinley, Gerard McSorley;
Production year: 1996;
Genre: thriller, drama, war, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Michael Collins” on the website imdb.com
“Hunger”, 2009
Director: Steven Hentges
Directed by Steve McQueen, this film stars Michael Fassbender as Bobby Sands, an IRA member who led the 1981 hunger strike in Maze Prison. The film focuses on Sands' commitment and the extreme measures taken by IRA prisoners to protest their treatment by the British government.
Starring: Lori Heuring, Linden Ashby, Joe Egender, Lea Kohl, Julian Rojas, Bjorn Johnson, Britten Partain, Laura Albyn, John Cooley, Ian Hopper;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: horror, action, thriller, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,2;
More information about the film “Hunger” on the website imdb.com
“The Crying Game”, 1992
Director: Neil Jordan
Directed by Neil Jordan, this thriller involves the story of a British soldier kidnapped by the IRA, probing themes of identity, race, nationality, and sexuality. IRA activities form the backdrop to a complex narrative about human relationships.
Starring: Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Jaye Davidson, Forest Whitaker, Adrian Dunbar, Breffni McKenna, Joe Savino, Birdy Sweeney, Andrée Bernard, Jim Broadbent;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: thriller, drama, melodrama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “The Crying Game” on the website imdb.com
“Bloody Sunday”, 2001
Director: Paul Greengrass
Directed by Paul Greengrass, this docudrama reenacts the events of January 30, 1972, when British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians during a peaceful protest march in Derry, an event that galvanized more support for the IRA.
Starring: James Nesbitt, Allan Gildea, Gerard Crossan, Mary Moulds, Carmel McCallion, Tim Pigott-Smith, Nicholas Farrell, Christopher Villiers, James Hewitt, Declan Duddy;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 111 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Bloody Sunday” on the website imdb.com
“Some Mother's Son”, 1996
Director: Terry George
Directed by Terry George, this drama is based on the real-life events of the 1981 Irish hunger strike. It tells the story of the mothers of two of the strikers and their struggle with their sons' commitment to the IRA cause.
Starring: Helen Mirren, Fionnula Flanagan, Aidan Gillen, David O'Hara, John Lynch, Tom Hollander, Tim Woodward, Ciarán Hinds, Geraldine O'Rawe, Gerard McSorley;
Production year: 1996;
Genre: drama, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Some Mother's Son” on the website imdb.com
“Patriot Games”, 1992
Director: Phillip Noyce
In this action thriller based on the novel by Tom Clancy and directed by Phillip Noyce, Harrison Ford plays former CIA analyst Jack Ryan who becomes entangled with a splinter faction of the IRA after thwarting an attack in London.
Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, Anne Archer, Patrick Bergin, Thora Birch, James Fox, Samuel L. Jackson, Polly Walker, J.E. Freeman, James Earl Jones;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: action, thriller;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Patriot Games” on the website imdb.com
“Cal”, 1984
Director: Pat O'Connor
Directed by Pat O'Connor and starring Helen Mirren and John Lynch, the film follows a young Catholic member of the IRA who is involved in the murder of a Protestant police officer and later falls in love with the officer's widow.
Starring: Helen Mirren, John Lynch, Donal McCann, John Kavanagh, Ray McAnally, Stevan Rimkus, Catherine Gibson, Louis Rolston, Tom Hickey, Gerard Mannix Flynn;
Production year: 1984;
Genre: thriller, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
More information about the film “Cal” on the website imdb.com
“Hidden Agenda”, 2001
Director: Marc S. Grenier
This political thriller directed by Ken Loach involves a British investigator sent to Northern Ireland to uncover the truth behind the killing of an American civil rights lawyer believed to be due to his investigation into human rights abuses by the British government and IRA alike.
Starring: Dolph Lundgren, Maxim Roy, Brigitte Paquette, Ted Whittall, Serge Houde, Alan Fawcett, Francis X. McCarthy, Harry Standjofski, Christian Paul, Andreas Apergis;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: action, thriller, crime, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 95 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 4,5;
More information about the film “Hidden Agenda” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a range of perspectives on the IRA, reflecting different aspects of its complex history and presence in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
In conclusion, films about the Irish Republican Army (IRA) provide viewers with a complex portrayal of a period marked by intense political struggle, ideological fervor, and personal sacrifice. Through narratives woven with suspense, drama, and the harsh realities of conflict, these films offer a window into the lives of those entangled within the tumultuous era of The Troubles in Ireland. They serve not only as cinematic experiences but also as historical reflections, dissecting the intricate layers of loyalty, identity, and morality. While they may differ in perspective and storytelling approach—ranging from gritty realism to fictionalized drama—collectively, they enrich our understanding of a pivotal chapter in Irish history and the perpetual quest for peace and self-determination.
