Hello, thank you for posting to r/BritishTV! We have recently updated our rules. Please read the sidebar and make sure you're up to date, otherwise your post may be removed.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BritishTV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
'Once upon a time in Northern Ireland' - a documentary based on people's own accounts of the Troubles, from both sides. Found it difficult to watch, but in a good way (if that makes sense).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0ff7cg0/once-upon-a-time-in-northern-ireland
Was amazing.. as was [Once Upon A Time In Iraq](https://youtu.be/T2L4jcVqo8s?si=qTgJdLqTdY0bIVYV).
Are you familiar with Adam Curtis? That’s some shit hot documentary filmmaking too.
Not about the troubles but THE FALL is set in N.I. and there is a loyalist character in it. Well worth watching regardless.
Also BLUE LIGHTS is a post troubles cop show set in N.I.
*Hunger*: Michael Fassbender plays Bobby Sands with a focus on the Maze Prison hunger strikes in 1981.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_(2008_film)
*In The Name of the Father*: Daniel Day Lewis plays Gerry Conlon, wrongly convicted along with 3 others of being part of an IRA cell dubbed at the time ‘The Guildford Four’.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Name_of_the_Father_(film)
Aye, you’re bang on with that. I recall watching it when it was aired on TV in 2009. I had no previous knowledge of the film and was mesmerised by Fassbender in particular. The scene you mention was truly harrowing yet moving and poignant. Liam Cunningham is often under appreciated but he’s at his best in this. It’s one of the few films I would place in the ‘must see’ category.
Not "about" the Troubles,but set during them- "Good Vibrations"-Biopic of Terry Hooley,DJ,Music fan,who set up a record shop on Great Victoria St,Belfast and an indie record label that Launched "The Undertones" among others..Kenneth Branagh's "Billy" Plays..
Also Shellshock Rock, a 1979 documentary about the punk scene in Northern Ireland, which can be watched free on the BFI website [https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-shellshock-rock-1979-online](https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-shellshock-rock-1979-online)
Belfast by Kenneth Branagh has wonderful cinematography. Think Schindler’s list. Black and white but somehow full of colour. It’s not gritty but still a great film or filum.
The TV show and book Eureka Street, though it's fantastical alternative history not historical. TV show version has awesome music featuring Ed O'Brien from Radiohead.
I saw the Crying Game in the theater in 1992 when I was 18. I’m just now realizing that I had no idea what that movie was even about. I need to rewatch it, I guess.
Came here to recommend that movie, as well as *Cal* (1984). Both good movies and great performances from the young Stephen Rea and John Lynch.
btw, *Angel* was released as *Danny Boy* in North America.
No Stone Unturned is a gripping, meticulously researched, beautifully made documentary about a mass shooting which unfolds like a movie and explains the history of the Troubles and the depth of the involvement of the police and their informers.
It's like Line Of Duty, but real-life.
https://youtu.be/ll6lC_RM54I?feature=shared
If you can track it down ,as it has not been shown in years, there was a series "Children of The North" which was a bit controversial for its time as it dealt with the activites of the British army's undercover squads in NI. IIRC a very grainy copy was available on "YouTube". It had a very strong cast of actors including Patrick Malahide , Michael Gough , Ian McElhinney (Granda Joe from "Derry Girls") and Adrian Dunbar.
"Harry's Game" is an adaptation of the Gerald Seymour novel . An Irish born army captain is sent undercover to tackle an IRA hit squad which assassinated a British cabinet minister.
As the OP suggested "The General" - has Brendan Gleeson in it which is usually a sign of a good film.
There is a weird series called "Confessional" with Robert Lindsay as a rogue IRA terrorist turned Soviet assassin who is trying to prevent the peace agreement in NI. It is based on a Jack Higgins novel.
"Fifty Dead Men Walking" deals with the career of Martin McGartland an informant who infiltrated the IRA and passed information to Special Branch. The film has been discredited by Martin McGartland who described it "as near to the truth as Earth is to Pluto" so you may need to bear this in mind.
Neither a film nor TV show, so apologies if this is not what you're looking for, but [The Troubles podcast](https://www.youtube.com/@troublespodcast) is an excellent source of content regarding this time imho.
Would recommend all of;
[Five Minutes of Heaven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Minutes_of_Heaven) about murder and reconciliation with Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt
[The Journey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Journey_(2016_film)) is set during the peace process with Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney
[The Boxer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boxer_(1997_film)) - set in the late 90's in Belfast with Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, and Brian Cox,
OC might mean Original Content?
Or they might have mistyped OG?
I think their point was that Wind that shakes the barley is set during the War of Independence (1919 to 1921) where as 'The Troubles' generally means the conflict in (mostly) Northern Ireland from the late '60s to the late '90s.
Bloody Sunday (2002, with James Nesbitt in) is a brilliant film, captures the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, where protesters were gunned down by (British) paratroopers in the Bogside.
Horrid really, that the British military was used against British people, horrid even more still that most people don't even really know much about it, horrid EVEN MORE STILL that the same battalion had been implicated in a DIFFERENT massacre in NI beforehand.
Hello, thank you for posting to r/BritishTV! We have recently updated our rules. Please read the sidebar and make sure you're up to date, otherwise your post may be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BritishTV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
'71
I always have to watch [Starred Up](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2567712/) after I've watched '71. Jack O'Connell is so good in both those movies.
'Once upon a time in Northern Ireland' - a documentary based on people's own accounts of the Troubles, from both sides. Found it difficult to watch, but in a good way (if that makes sense). https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0ff7cg0/once-upon-a-time-in-northern-ireland
Was amazing.. as was [Once Upon A Time In Iraq](https://youtu.be/T2L4jcVqo8s?si=qTgJdLqTdY0bIVYV). Are you familiar with Adam Curtis? That’s some shit hot documentary filmmaking too.
things like this are worth the license fee, despite what some of the newspapers say
This is an excellent docuseries! I also enjoy Once Upon a time in Iraq
Not about the troubles but THE FALL is set in N.I. and there is a loyalist character in it. Well worth watching regardless. Also BLUE LIGHTS is a post troubles cop show set in N.I.
Blue Lights is excellent
Second series was a bit shit
*Hunger*: Michael Fassbender plays Bobby Sands with a focus on the Maze Prison hunger strikes in 1981. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_(2008_film) *In The Name of the Father*: Daniel Day Lewis plays Gerry Conlon, wrongly convicted along with 3 others of being part of an IRA cell dubbed at the time ‘The Guildford Four’. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Name_of_the_Father_(film)
Two outstanding movies. I particularly liked the conversation between Sands and the priest. Such an impossible argument to have.
They lived together for 3 weeks in a remote cottage just to practice that scene many, many times per day. Certainly time well spent.
Wasn’t aware of that but it makes sense. I must see if I can get a hold of it for a rewatch, cheers thanks for that.
Genuinely interesting. It clearly worked well. As interesting as Michael Fassbender basically earning money acting to fund his actual passion, racing.
Aye, you’re bang on with that. I recall watching it when it was aired on TV in 2009. I had no previous knowledge of the film and was mesmerised by Fassbender in particular. The scene you mention was truly harrowing yet moving and poignant. Liam Cunningham is often under appreciated but he’s at his best in this. It’s one of the few films I would place in the ‘must see’ category.
Not "about" the Troubles,but set during them- "Good Vibrations"-Biopic of Terry Hooley,DJ,Music fan,who set up a record shop on Great Victoria St,Belfast and an indie record label that Launched "The Undertones" among others..Kenneth Branagh's "Billy" Plays..
Also Shellshock Rock, a 1979 documentary about the punk scene in Northern Ireland, which can be watched free on the BFI website [https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-shellshock-rock-1979-online](https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-shellshock-rock-1979-online)
Harry's Game. Ken Branagh's film Belfast.
Also came here to mention Chuckles' semi-autobiographical Belfast
The Crying game. (Better with no spoilers)
Some Mother's Son and Harry's Game.
In The Name of the Father
Belfast by Kenneth Branagh has wonderful cinematography. Think Schindler’s list. Black and white but somehow full of colour. It’s not gritty but still a great film or filum.
[Bloody Sunday](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280491/) [The General](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120706/)
The General is dynamite.
The General doesn't really involve the troubles though. Great movie still.
Agreed.
Divorcing Jack
I've never seen any movie or tv that captures the reality of that place and time. That's not a bad thing. It wouldn't make good viewing.
The TV show and book Eureka Street, though it's fantastical alternative history not historical. TV show version has awesome music featuring Ed O'Brien from Radiohead.
The crying Game will tell you all you need to know.
I saw the Crying Game in the theater in 1992 when I was 18. I’m just now realizing that I had no idea what that movie was even about. I need to rewatch it, I guess.
Me too, I think we were intrigued by the big reveal, I have no other memory of what it was about.
[Harry's Game](https://youtu.be/X6_7am4U5NY?si=UgQ2L4MFcNZh4naz) is on YouTube!
Elephant (be warned, it’s graphic)
I think Liam Neeson did a film called Michael Collins that I belive is relevant to this thread.
“In the Name of the Father”
Angel (1982)
Came here to recommend that movie, as well as *Cal* (1984). Both good movies and great performances from the young Stephen Rea and John Lynch. btw, *Angel* was released as *Danny Boy* in North America.
No Stone Unturned is a gripping, meticulously researched, beautifully made documentary about a mass shooting which unfolds like a movie and explains the history of the Troubles and the depth of the involvement of the police and their informers. It's like Line Of Duty, but real-life. https://youtu.be/ll6lC_RM54I?feature=shared
If you can track it down ,as it has not been shown in years, there was a series "Children of The North" which was a bit controversial for its time as it dealt with the activites of the British army's undercover squads in NI. IIRC a very grainy copy was available on "YouTube". It had a very strong cast of actors including Patrick Malahide , Michael Gough , Ian McElhinney (Granda Joe from "Derry Girls") and Adrian Dunbar. "Harry's Game" is an adaptation of the Gerald Seymour novel . An Irish born army captain is sent undercover to tackle an IRA hit squad which assassinated a British cabinet minister. As the OP suggested "The General" - has Brendan Gleeson in it which is usually a sign of a good film. There is a weird series called "Confessional" with Robert Lindsay as a rogue IRA terrorist turned Soviet assassin who is trying to prevent the peace agreement in NI. It is based on a Jack Higgins novel. "Fifty Dead Men Walking" deals with the career of Martin McGartland an informant who infiltrated the IRA and passed information to Special Branch. The film has been discredited by Martin McGartland who described it "as near to the truth as Earth is to Pluto" so you may need to bear this in mind.
Give My Head Peace. It's a NI sitcom that deals with a lot of those issues, available on YouTube.
BELFAST
Resurrection Man.
Neither a film nor TV show, so apologies if this is not what you're looking for, but [The Troubles podcast](https://www.youtube.com/@troublespodcast) is an excellent source of content regarding this time imho.
Shoot To Kill
It seems that every show set in Ulster has the troubles in the background or is upfront in the plot I.e. series two of Blue Lights.
Would recommend all of; [Five Minutes of Heaven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Minutes_of_Heaven) about murder and reconciliation with Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt [The Journey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Journey_(2016_film)) is set during the peace process with Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney [The Boxer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boxer_(1997_film)) - set in the late 90's in Belfast with Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, and Brian Cox,
Hidden Agenda 1972
For a more upbeat (litewrally) approach - Good Vibrations (2012)
Veronica Guerin, The General.
Both good movies but both set in Dublin though, and neither really troubles related!
The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006) with Cillian Murphy
Thats the oc troubles Great movie though
Forgive me but what does oc stand for? Edit: Oliver Cromwell maybe?
OC might mean Original Content? Or they might have mistyped OG? I think their point was that Wind that shakes the barley is set during the War of Independence (1919 to 1921) where as 'The Troubles' generally means the conflict in (mostly) Northern Ireland from the late '60s to the late '90s.
Lue lights, post troubles but what a great crime drama. Oh and derry girls
How about 'Hunger' or 'Bloody Sunday'? They're intense and give a raw look into that era.
50 Dead Men Walking is worth a watch. It’s on Prime.
Bloody Sunday (2002, with James Nesbitt in) is a brilliant film, captures the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, where protesters were gunned down by (British) paratroopers in the Bogside. Horrid really, that the British military was used against British people, horrid even more still that most people don't even really know much about it, horrid EVEN MORE STILL that the same battalion had been implicated in a DIFFERENT massacre in NI beforehand.