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Date Posted: 18:50:37 09/17/02 Tue
Author: U.S. Dates
Subject: "Bloody Sunday"-Movie


Subject : 'Bloody Sunday' the Movie – New York, Chicago screenings

IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE® NEWSLIST
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
-----------------------------

The Irish Freedom Committee would like to remind our subscribers in the Chicago and Midwest areas that the film “Bloody Sunday” will open in the Midwest at the upcoming Chicago Film Festival, which runs October 4-18.
Date and time for the film screening will be announced here shortly. The Irish Freedom Committee will also host an informal discussion event following the Chicago showing – watch here for further details.

Please forward news of these screenings widely.

Also reprinted below:
“Families Weep Over Bloody Sunday Film” - PA News, January 06 2002

The Irish Freedom Committee®
www.irishfreedomcommittee.net
************************************************

(Memo from Don Mullan, “Bloody Sunday” co-producer, and editor of “Eyewitness Bloody Sunday”. For book info see IFC website link following news stories below.)
--------------------------

'Bloody Sunday' the Movie

Dear Friends,

This is a general email to everyone on my mailing list. I'd be grateful if you would read this email and then send it to everyone on your own mailing list with a request that they do likewise and so on. I am hoping that from my PC in Dublin the word will go out to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide regarding the award winning movie 'Bloody Sunday' which is about to open in the United States and Canada and many other countries around the world.

'Bloody Sunday' is a critically acclaimed low budget movie with a big impact. It truthfully recounts the events of Sunday, January 30, 1972, a traumatic afternoon for my community in Derry, when British Paratroopers shot 27 people, 13 of whom died that day.

Since 1996 I have worked closely with the Bloody Sunday families as part of their campaign for justice and truth. With their support, I published 'Eyewitness Bloody Sunday' (Wolfhound Press 1997) a book which became an important catalyst in their campaign for the establishment of a new Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

The book was also the inspiration for two British filmmakers, Mark Redhead and Paul Greengrass, to make the movie. They invited me to be co-producer and, with the support and cooperation of the Bloody Sunday families and wounded, we set about making the first full length feature film, simply called 'Bloody Sunday'.

By Hollywood standards our budget was small ($4.3 million).
However, despite the low budget our cast involved over 10,000 people. In Derry, upwards of 7,000 people volunteered in freezing cold and wet weather in February 2001 to help us recreate the original march for the purpose of the film.

When the film was shown to the Bloody Sunday families and wounded in Derry earlier this year, it was, at its conclusion, given a standing ovation. For the filmmakers, it was both a humbling and encouraging endorsement. Since then, the film has astounded us by the impact it has made and the awards it has received worldwide. In Italy, for example, the demand was such that four copies of the
film soon spiraled to over 60 showing across the nation, netting over $1 million in box office sales! To date, the film has won six international awards (Australia, Croatia, Germany, Israel, Portugal and the USA) including 'Best Picture Awards' at the prestigious 'Sundance Film Festival 2002' and the 'Berlin Film Festival 2002'. It has now been selected for the New York Film Festival from which
it will begin a tour of the United States, Canada and other
worldwide territories, promoted by Paramount Classics.

Eventually 'Bloody Sunday' will be available in North America and elsewhere on video and DVD. However, it was made primarily as a theatrical piece and, as such, its full impact can best be experienced in that medium. Together with the families who lost loved ones on that day, we are hopeful that the film will be supported initially in New York and in other cities and towns throughout North America. I am writing especially to encourage as
many people as possible in the New York area to come and see the movie. Paramount Classics have predicted that if New York in particular leads, the rest of the country will follow. So, we appeal to those in the New York area, and the east coast in general, to come and see it and encourage your families, relatives,friends and associates to see it also.

I genuinely believe that 'Bloody Sunday' is one of the most
important films to be made about the 'Troubles' in the last 30 years. It contextualises the destruction of the non-violent Civil Rights Movement and the accendency of the armed struggle. One critic described our movie as "a pain-filled masterpiece". What is most important is that it was made by Irish and British people together. Those participating included families of the victims, the wounded, eyewitnesses to the massacre in 1972 and former
British soldiers who had served in Northern Ireland. The making of the film was, in reality, a mini peace process. It has a very authentic feel about it. Everyone on its production worked with integrity to tell the truth about the horror and consequences of that terrible day.

With the Bloody Sunday families support, I was co-producer of the movie, consultant and march organiser. I worked alongside English director, Paul Greengrass and English Producer, Mark Redhead, two of the most honourable people I have ever encountered in my professional career. The movie was a co-production between Granda Films and Jim Sheridan's 'Hell's Kitchen'.

The movie has been critically acclaimed throughout the world. For example, the following is a quote from Peter Traver's review in the September 2002 edition of 'Rolling Stone' magazine:

"Look for Paul Greengrass' volcanic re-creation of the massacre in Northern Ireland on January 30th, 1972 - immortalized in the song by U2 - to take on the giants in the race for best picture of 2002.

The film is also a triumph for actor James Nesbitt, who plays civil-rights leader Ivan Cooper with an intensity of feeling that will leave you shaken. And to think this stunner of a film cost less ($4.3 million) than it takes to keep Harry Potter in wands."

Travers went on to predict: "Bloody Sunday star James Nesbitt may be the actor of the year."

The movie will open at the New York Film Festival on 2nd October at the Lincoln Center.

Below is a Paramount Classics link which gives more details about the movie including access to a trailer:

http://www.paramountclassics.com/bloodysunday/

Just a couple of days after Bloody Sunday the bereaved families had to endure another wound when, through their New York Consulate, the Government of Prime Minister Edward Heath disseminated lies to the world media about the dead and wounded, suggesting that many were gunmen, bombers. They also alleged some were on the Army's wanted list. At the time the families did not understand the power of the
first sound bite. However, their epic struggle for justice has reached historic proportions and they are an inspiration to people around the world who are fighting against powerful forces for Human Rights and Justice. This movie is dedicated by Paul Greengrass, Mark Redhead and myself to the Bloody Sunday families and all who seek Truth, Justice and accountability for Human Rights abuses
throughout the world.

Please forward this message to everyone on your email list with a request that they to forward to everyone on theirs. Most importantly, please come to see this remarkable movie and encourage your families, relatives, friends and associates to see it also. Remember, 'Bloody Sunday' opens in New York on October 2 and thereafter, will be in all the major US cities during October and November 2002.

I would be grateful if everyone who does forward this email would include the following email address so that I can tract the success of this letter appeal:

bloodysundayfilm2002@yahoo.com

With thanks for your kindness and consideration,

Yours Sincerely,

Don Mullan.


************************************************

Families Weep Over Bloody Sunday Film

PA 01/06/02 12:02

Copyright 2002 PA News

By Gary Kelly, PA News

Families of the victims of Bloody Sunday sobbed after witnessing a powerful dramatisation of the horrific events of that day.

Around 450 relatives of the 13 men shot dead by members of the Parachute Regiment on January 30 1972, attended a special preview screening of the film Bloody Sunday.

Trauma counsellors were on hand to provide emotional support to those most deeply affected by the starkly realistic depiction of one of the most controversial events of the Troubles.

Liam Wray, whose 22-year-old brother Jim was shot dead on that fateful day, said it was a stunning critique of a nightmare that affected so many people.

"It was a very potent piece of film. It encompasses the reality of Bloody Sunday, the naivety, the despair and the tragic brutality.

"I think it will affect people deeply," he said.

In one of the most chilling scenes of the film, Jim Wray is seen being finished off by a soldier as he lies semi-paralysed on the ground.

The filmmakers said this scene was based on three sworn
testimonies given to the Saville Inquiry, currently investigating the events of Bloody Sunday.

"I hope that this will bring home the brutality and inhumanity of that day," added Mr Wray.

The film stars James Nesbitt as Ivan Cooper, the head of the Civil Rights movement and the city's MP at the time of the tragedy.

Written and directed by Paul Greengrass - who directed the Bafta award-winning The Murder of Stephen Lawrence - it follows the lives of a number of key individuals leading up to the civil rights march and the tumultuous events that followed.

Nesbitt, an Ulster Protestant from the nearby town of Coleraine, was just six-years-old on Bloody Sunday.

Clearly emotional after speaking privately to relatives after the screening, the actor said he had been extremely moved by the film and the audience reaction.

"These people have lived with it for 30 years. I only lived with it for a year," he said.

He said the project was one of the most important of his acting career.

"One of the most extraordinary things about this process was that I got to know them all.

"I'm in a sense part of their family. If it was tough for me, it's a damn sight tougher for them."

The Cold Feet star was struck by the parallels between himself and the character he played.

"Here was a middle class Protestant called Ivan Cooper, co-founder of the civil rights movement and an MP with a Catholic electorate.

"This clearly wasn't a sectarian people. Life imitated art 30 years later when a middle class Protestant actor swans into town and they embraced me and helped me."

Mr Cooper said watching the film was even more traumatic than he had anticipated.

"If it was difficult for me, I can't imagine how difficult it was for the families."

He said that looking at the film objectively, he could see how it had led to another 30 years of violence and shattered relationships.

The film, which will be premiered at the prestigious Sundance Festival in Utah on January 15, will be shown on ITV five days later. It will then go on general release in February.

"I would hope that people in Britain will take a close look at this film and realise that these people marching for civil rights weren't for the IRA or communism," said Mr Cooper.

"The IRA was a small organisation. Bloody Sunday was like throwing petrol on a massive fire and many people in Northern Ireland lost their lives because of that."

Mr Cooper too saw parallels between himself and James Nesbitt.

"I was happy he was chosen to play the part. I come from a Protestant part of Co Derry and it was very difficult for me. I was branded a traitor.

"I think Jimmy had had to leave behind many of the shibboleths of his tradition and he has done a very fine job. Emotionally, he caught the moment."

After the relatives were given a preview, the film was shown to the citizens of the town. The 1,000 tickets were snapped up within hours of becoming available.

Later tonight there will be a special gala screening for
politicians, church leaders and stars.

Among those attending will be Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness, the IRA's second in command on the day of the shootings.

Mr McGuinness is due to testify before the Bloody Sunday inquiry later this month.

John Hume, former leader of the SDLP and co-founder of the civil rights movement is also attending, as is Bishop Edward Daly who as a young priest provided one of the most powerful images of that day when he waved a bloody handkerchief as a man lay dying beside him.

************************************************

For more links to Bloody Sunday history please go to www.irishfreedom committee.net and type in “Bloody Sunday” at the green Search Box.

For more information about Don Mullan’s book “Eyewitness Bloody Sunday”
please go to:
http://members.freespeech.org/irishpows/bb3/january_2002.htm#Bloody%20Sunday%20-%20Thirty%20Years%20Ago%20Today


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