Bliain an Drochshaoil
Not to be confused with Celtic rock band Black 47, Black ’47 uses Ireland’s darkest period as the setting for a story of vengeance.
The year is 1847 and the Great Famine Hunger is at its most devastating point. Martin Feeney (James Frecheville), a former Connaught Ranger, returns to Connemara, County Galway, Ireland to find his mother has died from fever and his brother has been hanged by local authorities. His brother’s widow, Ellie (Sarah Greene), has been squatting in one of the few remaining houses in the area with her three children. Feeney plans to emigrate to the United States and asks Ellie and her children to join him. However, before they are able to leave agents of the local landlord (Jim Broadbent) and members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) arrive to remove the family and destroy the house. Amidst the chaos, Feeney is arrested and his young nephew is killed. Despite his arrest, Feeney is able to escape and kill his captors. Upon returning to the house, Feeney discovers Ellie and her daughters have died from exposure. After the destruction of the barracks and discovering Feeney is a deserter of the British Army, the local British authorities assign cocky British officer Pope (Freddie Fox) and disgraced former RIC investigator Hannah (Hugo Weaving), who served in Afghanistan with Feeney, to arrest him. The pair are also joined by Hobson, a young soldier, and Irish translator Conneely (Stephen Rea). As the four begin their manhunt, Feeney enters into a vengeful search for the individuals responsible for the death of his family.
It should be noted that to truly appreciate this film, it is important to understand the severity of the Great Hunger. Occurring between 1845-1852, one million people die and another million emigrate as a result of the Great Hunger in Ireland. This was a very dark time in Irish history and the film does an excellent job of displaying how truly awful this period was. On a personal note, this film is meaningful to me because I’ve found through my own research that some of my ancestors emigrated from Ireland to the United States around this time. With that being said, I absolutely loved this film.
Black ’47 comes off as completely authentic and might be one of the darkest films I’ve seen. The film’s story is one of vengeance and turmoil, and the use of the Great Hunger as a background adds to the misery depicted. The harsh environment and poor harvesting conditions are excellently depicted while an unsettling aura is visible throughout the film. In addition, I must credit cinematographer Declan Quinn for capturing Ireland’s beauty. The integration and use of the Irish language, or Gaeilge, throughout the film adds to the film’s authenticity.
One of the things I like most about this film is Martin Feeney. Feeney and his search for vengeance is reminiscent of old cowboy western films where the “hero” strolls into town and eliminates the wrongdoers. He epitomizes anti-heroes. I cannot praise Frecheville enough for his portrayal of Feeney. The cast is rounded out with great veteran actors and a young star. Jim Broadbent (Iris, Moulin Rouge!), Stephen Rea (The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire), and Hugo Weaving (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Matrix trilogy) are familiar faces that deliver incredible performances while Hollywood riser Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk, American Animals) is astounding as the young Hobson.
This was an excellent film that deserves to be viewed by many. There are little to no films on the Great Hunger, which is a shame because it’s a historical topic that should be learned.
