As part of the Say What Happened - Nick Fraser Selects programme at Bertha Dochouse, Curzon Bloomsbury
Dir: Brendan Byrne
Ireland / United Kingdom / 2016 / 105mins
BOBBY SANDS: 66 DAYS, directed by Brendan J Byrne, is a cinematic portrait of the Irish Republican martyr's epic 66-day hunger strike that grabbed the world's attention in the early 1980's. Using eye-witness testimony, unseen archive, reconstructions and animation, this cinematic odyssey serves as both the definitive account of a self-created Irish martyr and a seismic moment in 20th century Irish history.
Over 66 days, Bobby Sands’ hunger strike caused a ripple effect across the globe. Telling the story of Sands’ life for the first time, this unique film sets out how he became the architect of his own destiny and describes how his own personal story became overshadowed by his death, as he ascended into the ranks of international icon status.
"When I started at the BBC, I told my boss that I was interested in investigating the nature of Irish Republicanism, a force that seemed then to be threatening the foundations of the British state, when he drew me up in mid-sentence. “When you work at the BBC,” he advised sagely, “Never say what you want to make programmes about. Just say you work at the BBC.” I did manage to make a film about Irish Republicanism, but forty-odd years later [..]. I suppose this proves the adage that one must always stick at things."
Say What Happened by Nick Fraser (Faber & Faber)
Part of Say What Happened - Nick Fraser selects, a series of films curated by former Storyville editor and BAFTA award winner to coincide with the launch of his new book.
This screening will be followed by a director Q&A hosted by Kate Townsend, former Commissioning Editor at Storyville.