MovieChat Forums > Omagh (2004) Discussion > was this film necessary?

was this film necessary?

posted 19 years ago by gaelforce10
32 replies | jump to latest

With the greatest of respect to those who were killed (murdered) and the injured, was it necessary to make a film about Omagh? What was it's purpose, We all know who did it (the real IRA) and why. What about the Enniskillen, London Docklands, Warrington atrocities, are those victims any less deserving of been documented on film. I mean IRA and Real IRA, they are all the same to me. I haven't seen this film and I don't particularly want to, I saw Bloody Sunday, and really, enough is enough. Most films about N.I. nowadays only serve to dispress the viewer. Maybe the only message One can take from these films is that violence changes nothing. How about something different in relation to N.I. after all I'm sure people in N.I. still get on with there despite the years of violence. Just for the record I speak as a relative of those who were injured in Omagh, and I was working in Docklands when the IRA bombed the place.

[–] CraftyOldFox1946 19 years ago

Maybe some people want to remember this atrocity. Maybe they'll make a movie about Eniskillen. I don't know. But why do people make movies about anything then? If we know who did Eniskillen then, as you say, there's no purpose in making the movie.

"I mean IRA and Real IRA, they are all the same to me"

That's a pretty naive view of the situation there, Granted, both want the same thing in the end, but the Real IRA don't play by any rules. They're fanatics.

Oh, and only one guy was ever convicted for involvement, and he just went free on a technicality. So it also keeps the event in the public eye, especially now.

[–] gaelforce10 19 years ago

You missunderstood my point, the IRA and the Real IRA are basically the same, they both have murdered people for whatever purpose. What's naive about that, neither of them have played by the rules, the rules of legitimate society that is. The IRA themselves, are as much the same type of scumbags. I don't see any difference, they also planted bombs in public places and injured and murdered people. I've seen there handywork at first hand, I used to use Waterloo station everyday in London, they planted bombs in dustbins there on two seperate occasions killing one man and seriously injuring another, (that could have been me!) This takes me back to my point, they are all the same, what makes you think that the IRA are a better class of person than the Real IRA? Ask the Mc Conville & the Mc Cabe families that question and see what sort of awnser you get, apparently according to Sinn Fein, neither murders were crimes!!!! yeah right!

PS Despite what they say, they also have made their money by extortion, organised crime (drugs) etc. Both parties are fanantics!!

Also, I am writing this from Ireland, I hope that you're not one of those Irish-Americans who thinks that the majority of Irish people support the IRA, because We don't!! If you are, start tuning into what's going on over here.

[–] turfshed 19 years ago

Guys i am from Omagh, I lived in Omagh my whole life and was there the day of the bomb. Why do you worry if the movie was made or not? Given the worthy subject matter i think its as worthwhile as any other project that gets made out there, especially given the rubbish churned out these days. The situation in NI these days anyway is not for policital cause, its business. Drugs and the rest. This movie was very important for many people, to move on, to reflect or just to learn what happened that day for those further afield. So please dont take exception to it, cos im wholly sure no one will really care anyway. the people of omagh have been fighting for justice for a long time now, and will continue to do so. alone. they have been hampered by dodgy investigations, inability to prosecute with clear cut evidence and feet dragging by most parties involved. As a piece, it is brilliantly directed and acted. So why even talk about it if you havent seen it???
Just another ignoramus
cause the other three are figments of your *beep* imagination!!!"

[–] gaelforce10 19 years ago

Docklands & Bishopsgate are most certainly NOT figments of my imagination mate! cos I was there for both of them.

[–] turfshed 19 years ago

hahahaha, sorry buddy i wasnt talking to you, i was talking to the first guy.
My line below is a movie quote from chasing amy.
although now you are bringing it up its suspicious you were there for both those, like your righteous indignation tho.

"Because the other three are figments of your *beep* imagination!!!"

[–] johnhubbard 19 years ago

I'm sorry but who are you to say that there are worthier things to be making a film about?

Eniskillen was a long time ago and Omagh was made in conjunction with the outcome of the enquiry.

It was more recent and the movie was made to bring awareness to the facts surrounding this atrocity.

So you dont agree with it and it's not to your taste, fine, but to many of the families who were there or had lost those dearest to them the movie meant a great deal and if you dont believe me I met them after the London screening and everyone I met and spoke to about the film, were satisfied with it.
Which is the most important thing.

On top of this it won best single drama at the BAFTA's last night so obviously SOME people see it's real value.

[–] Setanta747 18 years ago

"I mean IRA and Real IRA, they are all the same to me"

That's a pretty naive view of the situation there, Granted, both want the same thing in the end, but the Real IRA don't play by any rules. They're fanatics.
_______________________

So you don't consider the Provisional IRA to have been fanatics then..? Yet those guys murdered more than 1,700 people in 30 years.

[–] Mariana Cornejo 19 years ago

Hello, stealthman:
I've just saw this film here in Mexico. As you should know, we have our own problems here, but when I see Omagh, and Bloody Sunday, and In the Name of the Father, and The Boxer, well (I may sound naive) I feel sorry and angry as if those crimes were made in my neighbourhood.
If the same thing happens in Spaín and Russia, well, we're talking about an Hydra that comes out with seven heads every time you cut one.
Is this film necessary?
Yes, I didn't know what happened. Now I won't forget.
Take care.

[–] eljay-7 19 years ago

I just saw this film tonight here in NYC at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. Michael Gallacher was there to answer questions after the film. He should be an inspriation to everyone and in real life has the same demeanor as the actor who portrayed him in the film. I'm glad they made the film. To my mind there were a number of eerie parallels between what happened before and after Omagh to what happened before and after Sept. 11.

[–] carcass65 19 years ago

i really wanna see this film,i think mr mcsorley is a belting actora nd should be wider known.
as for the polotics there is a difference between the realIRA and the provos,the provos dont deal in drugs or crime as do the realIRA.plus the provos actually will sit down and discuss power sharing as the realIRA will not negotciate and are a spinter fraction.
also the british army has killed its fair share of innocent people.innocent people die in wars and this is a war.shame the british goverment never excepted that.so who are the real terrorists

[–] gaelforce10 19 years ago

"provos don't deal in drugs" what planet are you on? guess what! they also run protection rackets as well. The IRA are the Al-queda, Irish style.
My greatgrandfather fought with the old IRA in 1916,that is a badge of honour in any Irish family' they were brave men fighting for our freedom, the IRA of today are thugs and murderers, who run their turf like the Mafia.

[–] carcass65 19 years ago

silly me..so bobby sands and the the other hunger strikers were all drugdealers,,there only fighting for what your greatgrandfather did in 1916...dont take it the wrong wy cos i totally repect michael collins

[–] gaelforce10 19 years ago

I don't know what media that you use to gather your information. However I strongly suggest that you start reading legit sources from Ireland. Everybody knows that the IRA are financed through crime. Ask the mc Cabe family, Jerry mc cabe (an irish police office) was murdered in the course of his duty, shot, (whilst trying to prevent IRA members robbing a bank) twenty times by an AK47 while sitting in his car with his seatbelt on, guess what, because of the way the Irish law is, the bastards got charged with the lesser crime of mansalughter.

[–] carcass65 19 years ago

ok ill grant you that there are members of the IRA that do take part in crime..but there are those who still are dedicated to the cause

[–] Setanta747 18 years ago

"as for the polotics there is a difference between the realIRA and the provos,the provos dont deal in drugs or crime as do the realIRA."

If you believe that you'll believe anything!

"plus the provos actually will sit down and discuss power sharing as the realIRA will not negotciate and are a spinter fraction."

Can't argue with that tbh - the Provisional IRA are on a ceasefire.

"also the british army has killed its fair share of innocent people.innocent people die in wars and this is a war.shame the british goverment never excepted that.so who are the real terrorists"

The "real terrorists" are the terrorists. What kind of stupid question is that? Innocent people have been killed by the army - shot while they were engaged in street disturbances for the most part.

[–] siobanphotogirl 11 years ago

Well there were *several* unarmed people shot by the British Army on Bloody Sunday. Many of them were running away from the brits when they were shot in the back, at least one was waving a white handkerchief.

Before you claim that I'm basing this solely on what I saw in the film Bloody Sunday, know that the film was based on eye witness testimonies.

[–] xredgarnetx 18 years ago

It made me aware of a bombing I don't think I had ever heard of, and I am a veteran journalist. Not a great movie, but an important story is told.

[–] gaelforce10 18 years ago

If you are a veteran journalist, you must certainly heard of this bombing, it got (deservedly so) massive media coverage. Not wishing to sound sarcastic, but what country/planet were you reporting from?

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[–] Born_Free 18 years ago

RIRA are naughty naughty boys, but at least they are better then those orange bastards and the UDA and Red Hand Comandos and such.

Movies about tradegys make big bucks, just looka at titanic.

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[–] Setanta747 18 years ago

"RIRA are naughty naughty boys, but at least they are better then those orange bastards and the UDA and Red Hand Comandos and such."

You what?!? In what way are they "better" than the UDA? Both are involved in drugs trafficing, both are involved in intimidation, extortion, protection racketeering, 'punishment beatings', smuggling and murder.

So tell me - what makes one of those organisations any 'better' than the other?

Could it be because you believe in one 'cause' and not in the other..?

[–] ken_westmoreland 18 years ago

Was this film necessary? No less necessary than drivel like 'The Devil's Own', portraying IRA men as swashbuckling heroes.

The attention to detail was brilliant - the opening sequence where they mix the explosives and change the car number plates, and when daytrippers got off the bus, you could hear some of them talking Spanish. (Some of the victims were Spanish students.)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Scully_70 17 years ago

It was definitely necessary, to show how the RUC and the Garda had a hand in things and could have prevented it--the intelligence and the phone warning being botched like that. There's a reason the RIRA always called in a warning--they didn't want to kill people, just make a statement (not saying they were right in what they did). There's also an eerie parallel here to Bush and 9/11, not heeding the warnings kind of thing.

Omagh was different as well--it was the biggest bombing of the Troubles, and the families were able to find out more about the realities of an investigation amidst the Peace Process. It was more about politics than your usual Northern Ireland film, which is quite informative to the uneducated viewer.

There will always be films about tragedies. One can only hope that each one takes a different perspective on the event. This is different to Bloody Sunday in that it covers the aftermath of the event rather than having the event be the primary focus of the film. I've seen both, and I felt both were worthy.

As for your statements about the IRA and the Real IRA, other posters have covered that, but, seriously, you need to better inform yourself as to the difference in the groups and what they've done before you lump them all together. You just sound ignorant saying crap like that.

Is there anyone else who has slightly mysterious bruises

[–] gaelforce10 17 years ago

"As for your statements about the IRA and the Real IRA, other posters have covered that, but, seriously, you need to better inform yourself as to the difference in the groups and what they've done before you lump them all together. You just sound ignorant saying crap like that"

I am already well informed about the activities of both groups, they both use violence to achieve their end, sometimes against their own people.

[–] Scully_70 17 years ago

Yeah...no. The IRA no longer uses violence to achieve its aims, it uses politics. Violence is counterproductive to the peace process. The Real IRA continues to promote an armed struggle. There's a big difference between the two, and that's what I meant.

Is there anyone else who has slightly mysterious bruises